The “People’s Pope” leaves behind an immense, singular legacy of compassion and service.
The Vatican recently released a video statement announcing the passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88. “At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” expressed Cardinal Kevin Farrell on Vatican’s TV channel.
Prior to his passing, the Head of the Holy See had been hospitalized for 38 days due to a severe case of pneumonia. On April 20, 2025 (Easter Sunday), he made his first big public appearance since being discharged, having held a grand Easter mass at the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square, much to the delight of throngs of devotees. He also made a special appearance at St. Peter’s Basilica the night before the celebration to meet and greet visitors.
Little did anyone know that this would be his final public appearance before his sudden passing.
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Shaking Up The Papacy
Born Jorge Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 17, 1936, a young Pope Francis never expected he would lead the entire Catholic Church.
When he assumed the position of pope in 2013, he was met with what many could only describe as a divided Church. His predecessor Benedict XVI abruptly resigned (the 2019 film The Two Popes detailed a dramatized version of the affair), and a slew of sexual abuse and financial scandals, many of which took place even before Pope Francis entered the picture, would eventually surface throughout his term.
What’s more, he was the first non-European pope to assume the position in 1,300 years, breaking the norms that were set over the centuries.
Ending An Era As The People’s Pope
What many will remember about the late pope was his unwavering dedication to people from all walks of life, not just the Catholic community.
A double-edged sword, his more progressive views and reforms have garnered criticism both within and outside the Church; these include his attempts at making the Church more welcoming to the LGBT+ community and people of other faiths (most evident in his decision to allow women and Muslims to a Holy Thursday ritual previously exclusive to Catholic men), as well as his firm stance on climate change, migrants, and warfare. On more than several occassions, he had publicly called for an end to both the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza.
Even when he was in frail condition during the recent Easter mass, he made sure to make a public appearance in order to deliver his Urbi et Orbi (“To the city of Rome and to the world”) papal address through a representative.
“On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas! For all of us are children of God!” he shares in the address, calling for peace and community amid the various wars and natural disasters that plague the world today.
Pope Francis’s rule as leader of the Catholic Church wasn’t a flawless one, if we’re to consider both praise and criticisms. But his gift for reaching beyond the confines of his religious institution and determination to usher in tangible change leaves little room for doubt that he’s the most singular pope the world has seen throughout history.
Banner photo via Wikimedia Commons.
