Pope Francis, the trailblazing pontiff from Argentina who reshaped the Catholic Church with his message of compassion, inclusion, and reform, died at 88, the Vatican announced early Monday.
His death was confirmed by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who in a statement said:
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
Cardinal Farrell praised Francis as a leader who embodied the Gospel values with “faithfulness, courage, and universal love—especially toward the poor and marginalized.”
Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrants, served as the 266th pope and made history in 2013 as the first Jesuit, the first non-European in over a millennium, and the first South American to lead the Roman Catholic Church.
A reformer at heart, Francis often challenged conservative traditions, drawing praise and criticism alike. He reached out to LGBTQ+ individuals, advocated for migrants and the poor, and pushed for climate action, highlighting a papacy centred on humility, service, and social justice.
His health declined in his later years, with multiple hospitalisations and increasing reliance on mobility aids due to conditions including diverticulitis, pneumonia, and bronchitis.
The Vatican announced that his body will lie in an open casket at St. Peter’s Basilica, allowing the faithful to pay their respects. Honoring his personal wishes, Francis will be buried at the ancient Basilica of St. Mary Major, just outside Vatican City.
A Legacy of Disruption and Compassion
From his earliest days as pope, Francis set himself apart. He succeeded Pope Benedict XVI after the latter’s historic resignation and stepped into a Church reeling from sexual abuse scandals and institutional mistrust.
Francis moved swiftly to address the crises, though not without criticism. While he introduced sweeping reforms to Church law and accountability measures for abuse cases, some survivors and advocates felt more could have been done, particularly regarding mandatory reporting to civil authorities.
He made headlines in 2023 by approving blessings for same-sex couples—a decision that marked a dramatic shift in Church policy and deepened divisions with traditionalists, especially in the U.S.
Despite these progressive moves, Francis held firm on other conservative stances: he opposed abortion, likening it to “hiring a hit man”, supported clerical celibacy, and resisted calls to ordain women, though he did advocate for expanding their leadership roles in the Church.
Before entering the priesthood in 1969, Bergoglio led a humble life, working as a janitor, bouncer, and later as a chemist. He was to the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was named a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.
His down-to-earth lifestyle, bold voice for the marginalized, and spiritual leadership made him a beloved figure to many across the world, even as his papacy stirred debate and division within the Church.
Now, as the Vatican prepares for a conclave to elect his successor, Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy defined by courage, compassion, and a deep desire to bring the Church closer to the people it serves.
