Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, died Monday at the age of 88. He died of a stroke and subsequent irreversible heart failure, Vatican says.
His papacy, marked by compassion, simplicity, and global outreach, also became a lightning rod for criticism, particularly from conservative Catholics who resisted his progressive rhetoric and reforms.
The Vatican announced his death early Monday morning, with Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, delivering the statement from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, the residence where Francis had chosen to live instead of the papal apartments. “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.
Bells rang solemnly across Rome, signaling the passing of a pope who had left a deep and complicated mark on the Church. Francis had been battling chronic respiratory issues throughout his later years, a condition worsened by the removal of part of one lung when he was young.
His final health crisis began in February 2025, when he was admitted to Gemelli Hospital with a severe respiratory infection. The illness progressed into double pneumonia, keeping him hospitalized for 38 days—the longest of his 12-year papacy.
He made one final public appearance on Easter Sunday, April 6, 2025, just a day before his death. Appearing frail but joyful, he blessed thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square and surprised many with a spontaneous ride in the popemobile, delighting pilgrims and tourists. He also met briefly with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, signaling his continued commitment to diplomacy and engagement despite his declining health.
JD Vance met with Pope Francis hours before he passed.
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) April 21, 2025
Now some Democrats are claiming Vance is ‘The Anti-Christ’ 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Pj2a4FSX00
A Pontificate of Firsts
Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina made history in 2013 by becoming the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first to take the name “Francis” in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.
His papacy began with a simple greeting from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica: “Buonasera” (“Good evening”)—a stark contrast to the more formal introductions of his predecessors.
From the outset, Francis emphasized humility, pastoral care, and a mission-oriented Church. Choosing to live in the modest Vatican guesthouse instead of the Apostolic Palace, wearing simple white robes, and often riding in small cars, he embodied a more grounded and accessible papal image.
He insisted the Church should act as a “field hospital after battle,” reaching out to the wounded and the marginalized.
His election came in the wake of the tumultuous resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, whose scholarly, doctrinaire style and mishandling of the sexual abuse crisis had left the Church divided and demoralized. Francis was seen as a unifying figure who could restore trust and reenergize the global flock.
Reforming with Resistance
Though not doctrinally radical, Francis was pastorally revolutionary. His papacy quickly became defined by a willingness to open dialogue on previously taboo subjects: divorce, LGBTQ+ inclusion, clerical celibacy, and the role of women in the Church. His famous response to a question about gay priests—“Who am I to judge?”—was a clear signal of his more inclusive tone.
He continued to uphold the Church’s traditional teachings on abortion and the male-only priesthood, but urged compassion and discretion in pastoral care.
He made it easier for Catholics to obtain annulments, allowed priests to forgive women who had had abortions, and even permitted the blessing of same-sex couples—decisions that sent tremors through the Catholic hierarchy, especially among conservatives.
Francis also opened significant roles to women, including naming Sister Nathalie Becquart as the first woman with voting rights in a Vatican synod. While he stopped short of endorsing female ordination, he did amplify women’s voices in decision-making processes—an incremental but important shift for an institution historically closed to female leadership.
Still, women’s groups remained critical of Francis’ refusal to go further. The Women’s Ordination Conference called his rejection of women’s priesthood “painfully incongruous with his otherwise pastoral nature.”
A Global Pope for the Marginalized
Francis made a point of visiting the peripheries of the Catholic world—poor countries, war zones, and regions where Christians are persecuted. His first trip as pope was to the Italian island of Lampedusa, then a flashpoint in Europe’s migrant crisis. There, he condemned the “globalization of indifference” toward refugees.
Throughout his papacy, he focused on environmentalism, issuing the landmark encyclical Laudato Si’, which called climate change a moral issue and rebuked consumerism and ecological neglect. He challenged political and corporate elites to consider the planet and the poor, famously declaring, “Money must serve, not rule!”
His opposition to unfettered capitalism and advocacy for economic justice drew fierce criticism, particularly from conservatives in the United States. Some labeled him a Marxist, to which he wryly responded, “Some of my best friends are Marxists.”
The Abuse Crisis and Internal Church Reform
Despite his many accomplishments, Francis’ handling of the clergy sexual abuse crisis drew significant criticism. Early in his papacy, he created a commission to address the issue, but its effectiveness was limited.
A major misstep occurred in 2018 when he defended a Chilean bishop accused of covering up abuse. After intense backlash, he reversed course, apologized to victims, and accepted the mass resignation of Chile’s bishops.
Francis later took more substantial steps: he defrocked high-ranking clerics like ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, removed the secrecy surrounding abuse investigations, and created processes to hold bishops accountable. However, survivors and advocates say more systemic reform is still needed.
He also tackled financial corruption at the Vatican, authorizing a high-profile investigation into a London real estate deal that ultimately led to the conviction of Cardinal Angelo Becciu. The case highlighted internal dysfunction but also demonstrated the pope’s commitment to transparency, even at the cost of scandal.
Clashes with Conservatives
Francis’ pontificate sparked an ideological divide within the Church. In contrast to his predecessor Benedict XVI’s rigid theological framework, Francis preferred dialogue, decentralization, and discernment. This shift alienated many conservatives, particularly in Europe and North America.
High-profile opponents, such as U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke, publicly criticized Francis’ decisions, accusing him of promoting doctrinal confusion. Francis responded to most critiques with silence, though he eventually stripped Burke of certain privileges for “fomenting division.”
Some traditionalist Catholics accused Francis of weakening the faith, especially after he curtailed use of the old Latin Mass and opened discussions on blessing same-sex unions. These moves deepened polarization within the Church.
Even so, many praised Francis for being in touch with the people. His 2014 Christmas speech to the Roman Curia, where he listed 15 spiritual “diseases” afflicting Church officials—including “the terrorism of gossip” and “spiritual Alzheimer’s”—was a bold call for introspection and reform.
Embracing the Poor and the Suffering
Inspired by his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, the pope devoted special attention to the poor, the sick, and the marginalized. He often made unannounced visits to prisons, homeless shelters, and hospitals. He kissed the disfigured, washed the feet of refugees and prisoners, and invited the outcasts to the center of the Church’s attention.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led a haunting prayer service in an empty, rain-soaked St. Peter’s Square, declaring that the crisis revealed the interconnectedness and fragility of all humanity. He urged the world to rethink its priorities, especially how societies treat the most vulnerable.
Francis’ health problems—including knee pain that forced him into a wheelchair, colon surgery in 2021, and recurring bouts of bronchitis—never dampened his enthusiasm for personal outreach. Even in his final years, he remained a tireless advocate for dignity, peace, and global solidarity.
A Life Marked by Struggle and Redemption
Born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the eldest of five children in a working-class family of Italian immigrants. Raised by his devout grandmother Rosa, he developed a love for soccer, opera, and prayer.
He entered the Jesuit order in 1958 and was ordained a priest in 1969. At age 36, he was appointed head of the Jesuits in Argentina—a decision he later said was premature, given his rigid management style at the time.
His tenure coincided with Argentina’s brutal military dictatorship. While critics accused him of failing to confront the regime publicly, later accounts revealed his quiet efforts to protect dissidents, hide persecuted individuals, and negotiate for the release of kidnapped priests.
His ecclesiastical career advanced steadily. After a period of exile in Cordoba, he was named auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992, archbishop in 1998, and a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He came close to being elected pope in 2005, reportedly coming second to Benedict XVI.