Pope Francis, the first non-European pontiff in almost 1,300 years, has died at 88. Though he had heart problems and a life-threatening case of pneumonia in both lungs, he continued to fight courageously. He died just weeks after leaving a hospital in Rome. A transformative papacy that began in 2013 ends here. It was the year that Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born to Italian immigrants in Buenos Aires. With this choice, he has become the first Latin American and Jesuit pope in the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history.
In March 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio ascended to the papacy as Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome. That would be his role in leading the Church to a renewed expression of mission and evangelization. He became the first pontiff to select the name Francis. This decision recognized the lessons of St. Francis of Assisi, particularly his emphasis on humility and commitment to serving the poor. As the eldest of five kids, he often looked back on his close musical family upbringing. His Italian grandmother was one of the major architectural influences on his character and faith.
Pope Francis’s path to the papacy began with a notable moment in confession at the age of 16. That encounter moved him to give his life to the priesthood. He was appointed superior of the Jesuit order in Argentina in 1973 and held that post until 1979. He led efforts to reform and eliminate financial corruption within the Vatican. He imprisoned the Church’s longstanding cover-up of clerical sexual abuse.
As news of his passing circulated, dignitaries around the world and countless Obama admirers celebrated him, offering reflections on the example he set and honoring his legacy.
“In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world,” – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
US Vice President JD Vance, who sought such a spot when he served in the Senate, tweeted out his nostalgia. As one guest commented, “I was glad to see him yesterday, though clearly very sick. I’ll always remember that beautiful homily he delivered in the early days of COVID—it was just so special.”
French President Emmanuel Macron underscored the pope’s lofty aim. He concluded, “From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis urged the Church to restore faith, joy and hope first to the poorest and then to lead people to one another and to nature. For this, may his hope be resurrected without ceasing beyond him.”
Friedrich Merz, chancellor-in-waiting of Germany, said he was deeply moved by the passing of Pope Francis. He continued, “Francis will be remembered for his unrelenting focus on the most vulnerable in our society, to justice and reconciliation.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Pope Francis’s impact beyond Catholicism: “He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate.”
Christopher Lamb, CNN’s Vatican correspondent, noted the timing of Pope Francis passing shortly after Easter was particularly important. He observed the remarkable timing of the Pope’s death, just after the peak of the church’s liturgical year —the Easter Triduum. In an appropriate turn, the Easter message comes to represent these twin motifs of death and new life.
Lamb further elaborated on Pope Francis’s dedication during his final days: “The last days of Francis were really dedicated to serving the church, to continuing his ministry right until the end. He has not resigned, contrary to rumors that many wishful thinkers thought would be the case. From then on, he always signaled his fight-to-the-end, go-until-the-last-second, serve-until-the-very-end spirit.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced Pope Francis’s death with deep sorrow: “Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.” He continued to highlight Pope Francis’s teachings: “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalized.”
Pope Francis’s papacy was marked by efforts to reach out to those on society’s margins. He continually called for social justice and environmental stewardship, leading a prophetic call for solidarity among all people. It is this genuine demeanor that connected him to the world and won him the hearts of many.
His legacy includes years of outreach that he spearheaded. He instituted important reforms in the Vatican itself, to restore credibility to church leadership and address issues that are both painful and complex. He did not shy away from taking sweeping action to root out financial misconduct, and he made clerical sexual abuse a central target of his reforms.
