Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, died at age 86. He first experienced a stroke, then heart failure, according to multiple reports from the Vatican. His death puts an end to a remarkable 12-year papacy. Throughout this period, he demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the marginalized of the world and unabashedly condemned the evils of corporate greed and inequality of wealth.
Pope Francis’s 38-day hospital stay was the longest of his papacy. He had been affected by past severe health adversities such as multiple bronchiectasis, arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Back in February, he experienced two life-threatening brushups with flaming pneumonia. His health struggles ended with him being hospitalized this last month and his passing shortly thereafter.
Over the course of his papacy, Pope Francis became a powerful and prophetic voice for the poor, dispossessed, and marginalized. He often stressed the growing moral responsibility of richer countries to fix global social inequalities and tackle climate change. In a groundbreaking 180-page encyclical on the environment, he called on the wealthiest countries to lead. He challenged them to repay their “grave social debt” to the poor. He described the climate crisis as “one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day.”
Many noted Pope Francis for his blunt statements regarding religious fundamentalism. That to be faithful to one’s religion, one would never think about killing others. He cautioned us not to conflate acts of terrorism with Islam.
“I think it is not right to identify Islam with violence,” – Pope Francis
He conceded that fundamentalist groups can be found in all religions, even in Catholicism.
“I think that in nearly all religions there is always a small fundamentalist group,” – Pope Francis
During his papacy, he took action in humanitarian crises, such as offering refuge to 12 Syrians at the Vatican after visiting the Greek island of Lesbos. His compassion was more than talk though, he began really reaching out and doing what he could to give people a shelter that needed it.
His leadership was not without controversy. Survivors of the clerical abuse crisis have attributed his lack of understanding about the crisis’s extent. They point to the continued, urgent need for the Church to lead the way in taking aggressive measures to eradicate abuse and its concealment. This criticism shone a light on a controversial legacy among his many efforts for social justice.
Pope Francis’s approach often blended traditional Catholic doctrine with contemporary issues, leading to both praise and criticism from various quarters within the Church and beyond. He famously stated that “happiness … is not an app that you can download on your phones,” underlining his belief in the importance of genuine human connection over digital interactions.
His funeral services have been prearranged, per his wishes. Pope Francis – Wishes to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore church, Rome’s Esquilino neighborhood. This decision is a significant break with longstanding Vatican traditions surrounding papal burials.
“The cost of preparing the burial will be covered by a sum provided by a benefactor, which I have arranged to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. I have given the necessary instructions regarding this to Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Basilica.” – Pope Francis
When the news of his death first broke, tributes and eulogies quickly arrived from world leaders and senior clerics. Specifically, they appreciated his deep perspectives to international debates on ethics, social equity, and ecological responsibility. Pope Francis’s legacy is one that will be remembered as a distinct commitment to solving some of the world’s most urgent issues with compassion and understanding.