The Vatican reported that Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. He had recently battled double pneumonia, which required hospitalization.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell’s announcement began: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father".
His papacy was defined by both his impactful reforms and the controversies that surrounded them
He was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere, and the first to choose the name "Francis." He also broke new ground as the first pope to give a TED Talk. He was also the first pope in more than 600 years to be elected following the resignation, rather than death, of his predecessor.
Right from the start of his papacy, Pope Francis set out to break the mold and present the role in a new light. Even in planning his burial, he made an unconventional choice—opting for the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, becoming the first pope in centuries to choose that site.
Vatican News reported that the late Pope Francis had requested his funeral rites be simplified, "The renewed rite,” said Archbishop Diego Ravelli, “seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.”
Francis was deemed not progressive enough by some, yet far too progressive by others
His apostolic exhortation (an official papal teaching on a particular issue or action), Amoris Laetitia, sparked significant debate for its openness to allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive the Eucharist.
Additionally, many progressive Catholics expressed their disappointment, as they had hoped for more decisive changes regarding women's roles, the acceptance of married clergy, and the greater inclusion of LGBTQIA+ members in the Church.
He was a humble man, opting to live in the Vatican’s simpler guest house instead of the grand papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace
In many ways, what stood out about Francis was not just his words or theological insights, but his unique approach to life.
His legacy may be defined by the simplicity of his dress and habits, his welcoming and pastoral style, and his wise spirit of discernment.
In 2015, Francis released his ground-breaking encyclical, Laudato si’: On Care for Our Common Home. It expanded Catholic social teaching by giving a comprehensive account of how the environment reflects our God-given “common home”.
He also made a pivotal and innovative contribution to the climate change debate by identifying the ethical and spiritual causes of environmental destruction.
Francis’ papacy opened a path for the Church to be more deeply converted to Jesus’ way of love, through synodality and dialogue.
He showed us that clinging to labels like “progressive” or “conservative” does not help the Church live out Jesus’ mission of love — a mission he emphasized from the very beginning of his papacy.