Pope Francis was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 13 March 2013 until his death in 2025. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first Latin American, and the first pope born or raised outside Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III.
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Also born on December 17
Musician
1770–1827 · Austrian Empire
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer, conductor, and pianist.
Joseph Karl Stieler, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Actor
1975 · United States
Milica Bogdanovna Jovović, known professionally as Milla Jovovich, is an American actress and former model. Her starring roles in numerous science fiction and action films led the music channel VH1 to deem her the "reigning queen of kick-butt" in 2006.
Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Actor
1974 · United States
Sarah Catharine Paulson is an American actress. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
PhilipRomanoPhoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Actor
1953 · United States
William Pullman is an American actor. After graduating with a Master of Fine Arts degree in theater, he was an adjunct professor at Montana State University before deciding to pursue acting.
Elena Ternovaja, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Politician
1978 · Philippines
Emmanuel "Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao Sr. is a Filipino professional boxer and former politician. Nicknamed "PacMan", he is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional boxers of all time, becoming the only eight-division world champion in boxing history.
Avito C. Dalan for the Philippine News Agency, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientist
1908–1980 · United States
Willard Frank Libby was an American physical chemist noted for his role in the 1949 development of radiocarbon dating, a process which revolutionized archaeology and palaeontology.
unknown, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons