Pope Francis, the first Latin American to ascend to the papacy, died Monday (April 21) at 88.
Known for his modest demeanor and passionate advocacy for the poor, his reign left a deep impression on a church grappling with modern relevance and internal division. From his earliest days, he struck a tone of humility that stood in stark contrast to the opulence of the Vatican, often drawing praise and controversy in equal measure.
Church bells rang out across continents—from Buenos Aires to Manila to the streets of Rome—as news of his passing spread. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell said from the Domus Santa Marta chapel, where the pontiff resided.
Francis had long battled lung disease, a condition stemming from surgery in his youth that left him with one functioning lung. On February 14, 2025, he was hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli hospital for a severe respiratory infection, later diagnosed as double pneumonia.
He remained there for 38 days, the longest medical absence of his 12-year papacy. His final appearance came on Easter Sunday, when he offered a blessing to thousands in St. Peter’s Square, one day before his death. Minutes earlier, he had met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
From the moment Jorge Mario Bergoglio stepped onto the Vatican balcony in 2013 and greeted the world with a simple “Buonasera,” he redefined the modern papacy. His focus on empathy, economic justice, and outreach to society’s margins stood in contrast to a church battered by sexual abuse scandals and accusations of detachment. Francis embraced refugees, criticized unchecked capitalism, and made historic overtures to LGBTQ+ Catholics, igniting backlash from traditionalists.
One of his gravest missteps came in 2018 when his mishandling of a clergy abuse case in Chile reignited global outrage. Yet he also guided the church through the COVID-19 pandemic with unprecedented solitude, famously addressing an empty St. Peter’s Square and urging solidarity: “We are all in the same boat, fragile and disoriented.”
World leaders responded swiftly. French President Emmanuel Macron said Francis brought “joy and hope to the poorest,” adding, “May this hope forever outlast him.”
In Rome, flags were lowered, and mourners packed the square beneath tolling bells. For many, it marked the end of an era.
Francis’ death initiates a week of mourning. Vatican officials will pay their respects at Santa Marta, followed by public visitation in St. Peter’s Basilica.
A funeral Mass and conclave to elect his successor will follow, continuing the centuries-old tradition of transition.
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