Pope Francis, pontiff of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday, March 27, 2023. At 88 years old, he passed away at his home in Casa Santa Marta. His death followed a stroke and subsequent heart failure, marking the end of a transformative twelve-year papacy that focused on compassion and social justice. In an unprecedented departure from custom, Pope Francis’s funeral mass was not planned to begin until 10 AM local time. Dean of the college of cardinals, Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, presided over the service.
Yet the Pope’s funeral was striking in its simplicity, as the leader of the Catholic Church ultimately got the intimate gathering he desired. In keeping with these requests, Pope Francis’s tomb will be inscribed only with his papal name in Latin: Franciscus, and there will be no elaborate decorations. This decision is an important one, as it highlights that even in death the Pope wished to maintain humility. His coffin was closed during a private ceremony Friday evening.
In the last few weeks, Pope Francis had been recuperating from double pneumonia that had required a five-week hospitalization. His death represents a historic opportunity. He becomes the first pontiff in more than a century not to be buried with ceremony in the grottoes below St Peter’s Basilica. Last year, he streamlined the papal funeral rites in a way that made his own requests for service apparent, focused on intimacy rather than pageantry.
Pope Francis was praised for his close ties to marginalized communities, such as refugees and prisoners. He asked for a final send-off to include an assembly of 40 people, including inmates and transients. This move underscores the depth of his long-time dedication to protect those who are weak and defenseless.
“We are feeling really sorry about this death because he was the only pope who really stood with refugees and vulnerable people,” – Mahamat Daoud
His outreach didn’t stop in Italy. He was a relentless champion for the rights and dignity of refugees suffering hardship in Libya and other parts of the world. “We need to defend those rescuing people from perilous waters,” he continued. Traditional values touch on his deeply held beliefs about the sanctity of all human life and compassion for others.
Robert Mickens noted, “Since the beginning of his papacy, Francis set out to focus on people who might be considered the dregs of society by others.” This faith and forward-thinking approach shaped much of his leadership and struck a profound chord within the Catholic community and outside of it.
In a poignant reflection on the Pope’s legacy, Luca Casarini remarked, “He was a true disciple of Jesus – he spoke to everyone.” This simple sentiment, rejecting barrier-building and prejudice, encompasses the hope-filled and love-filled message that Pope Francis preached around the world during his papacy.
As is customary after the passing of a pope, cardinals have authorized nine days of mourning starting Saturday. A conclave to elect a new pope isn’t likely to start before May 5. We hope that the Catholic community will use this time to pause and pray. Later, they’ll reflect on the profound ways in which Pope Francis changed the Church and society at large.
His papacy was defined by his attempts to reach across faiths to build bridges in dialogue and understanding. The Pope took his name to honor Saint Francis of Assisi. Saint Francis is well known for renouncing his fortune to care for the needy. This tie to the past represents his deep and abiding life-long commitment to social justice and caring for those that are most in need.