Pope Francis, the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church, has passed away, according to a Vatican announcement on Monday. His tenure was characterized by significant division and tension as he aimed to modernize the deeply entrenched institution.
At the age of 88, after enduring a severe case of double pneumonia earlier in the year, his passing came unexpectedly. Just recently, he was seen greeting crowds from the open-air popemobile in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday.
“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” declared Cardinal Kevin Farrell on the Vatican’s television channel.
“At 7:35 AM (0535 GMT) this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
This past Sunday marked Francis’s first significant public appearance since his discharge from a 38-day hospital stay for pneumonia on March 23.
During an Easter Sunday service, an aide read the pope’s message from the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where Francis emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Visitors and pilgrims at the Vatican during Easter were visibly shocked and saddened by the news.
Additionally, on Sunday, Pope Francis had a brief encounter with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
“My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,” Vance expressed on X.
Global leaders are now acknowledging the pope’s death, praising his efforts to reform the global church and extending their condolences to the approximately 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni lamented the loss of “a great man, a great shepherd.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remarked, “He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and pure love for the less fortunate.”
Jose Ramos-Horta, President of East Timor, where Francis made his longest papal visit in September 2024, noted, “The pope leaves behind a significant legacy of humanity, justice, and human fraternity.”
12-Year Papacy
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was unexpectedly elected pope on March 13, 2013. Known for his advocacy for the poor, many considered him an unlikely candidate.
He infused the papal role with simplicity, opting not to reside in the lavish Apostolic Palace, but choosing a community setting instead for his “psychological health.”
He took over a church grappling with a child sex abuse scandal and internal Vatican conflicts, tasked with a clear directive to restore stability.
Throughout his papacy, he faced harsh criticism from conservatives for allegedly disregarding essential traditions and from progressives who believed he should have enacted more significant changes to the millennia-old church.
Despite internal challenges, Francis became a global icon, renowned for his extensive international travels and fervent support for interfaith dialogue and peace, always advocating for the marginalized, including migrants.
For a significant part of his tenure, an unusual situation occurred with two living popes in the Vatican, as his predecessor Benedict chose to remain in the Holy See after his startling resignation in 2013.
Benedict, celebrated by conservatives, passed away in December 2022.
Francis appointed nearly 80% of the cardinal electors responsible for selecting the next pope, likely ensuring the continuation of his progressive agenda despite opposition from traditionalist factions.
