Vatican City – April 21, 2025 — Pope Francis, the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church and a transformative figure who brought compassion, controversy, and courage to the papacy, died on Monday at the age of 88.
The solemn announcement was made from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta — the papal residence — by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” Farrell said. Church bells rang across Rome as the news spread, marking the end of a historic 12-year papacy.
Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, had long battled chronic lung disease and was hospitalized at Gemelli hospital on February 14 for a respiratory crisis that later developed into double pneumonia. His 38-day stay marked the longest hospitalization of his tenure. Yet in a final show of strength and devotion, he appeared publicly on Easter Sunday — just one day before his death — to deliver his blessing to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, drawing cheers with a surprise ride through the piazza in the popemobile.
Elected in March 2013 following the unprecedented resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Francis entered the papacy with a spirit of renewal and humility. His first words as pope — a simple “Buonasera” (“Good evening”) — set the tone for a papacy rooted in accessibility, compassion, and a call for reform. From embracing refugees and the poor to his sharp critiques of capitalism and environmental neglect, he carved a new and sometimes controversial path for the Church.
Francis’ leadership resonated globally, yet his progressive stances — including outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics, a crackdown on liturgical traditionalism, and a reevaluation of the Church’s economic teachings — drew criticism from conservatives within the Church. His pontificate faced significant challenges, including the mishandling of a major clergy sex abuse case in Chile in 2018, which reopened deep wounds and fueled ongoing demands for accountability.
Perhaps one of the most defining moments of his papacy came during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Francis led the Church — and the world — through unprecedented isolation and fear. In a haunting address to an empty St. Peter’s Square in March 2020, he urged unity in the face of shared vulnerability. “We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented,” he said, calling for global solidarity and compassion.
Pope Francis leaves behind a complex legacy — one marked by deep empathy, calls for justice, and a determination to guide the Church into the modern world, even amid internal resistance. He will be remembered not only for his theological teachings, but for his humanity — and for reminding the faithful that the Church must always walk alongside the poor, the suffering, and the forgotten.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the Vatican in the coming days.
Credit: AP
