Pope Francis, Global Spiritual Leader and Champion of the Poor, Dies at 88

Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and first Latin American pontiff in the nearly 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church, passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, in his residence at the Vatican. The news was confirmed by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, who described the pontiff’s final moments as peaceful and surrounded by close aides and medical staff.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis ascended to the papacy on March 13, 2013, following the historic resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He was the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years and brought a fresh, pastoral perspective to a Church long dominated by Eurocentric traditions. His election marked a significant moment of hope for the global South and for Catholics seeking reform, compassion, and inclusivity.

Known widely as the “People’s Pope,” Francis used his papacy to focus the Church’s attention on the marginalized — refugees, the poor, and victims of abuse — and to emphasize mercy over judgment. His leadership style was defined by humility: from choosing modest papal apartments over the opulent Apostolic Palace to embracing interfaith dialogue and environmental stewardship.

Pope Francis’s health had been a growing concern over the last year. He had suffered from chronic respiratory issues dating back to a lung infection in his youth. In early April 2025, he was diagnosed with double pneumonia. Despite his condition, he insisted on delivering a brief Easter Sunday blessing to a crowd of over 40,000 in St. Peter’s Square. It was to be his final public appearance.

The Vatican released an official statement at 8:15 a.m. Rome time, announcing his death: “His Holiness Pope Francis returned to the house of the Father at 7:35 a.m., Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. He passed peacefully in prayer, having lived his final days with grace and faith.”

Over his 12-year tenure, Pope Francis made significant changes to the Church’s approach on global issues:

•Social Justice: He championed the rights of immigrants and called for humane responses to migration crises across Europe and the Americas.

•Environment: In 2015, his encyclical Laudato Si’ became a landmark document urging environmental action and responsible stewardship of the Earth.

•Church Reform: Francis cracked down on financial corruption within the Vatican and restructured various governing bodies to improve transparency.

•Inclusivity: While upholding traditional Church teachings, Francis softened the language toward divorced Catholics, the LGBTQ+ community, and those outside the Church, often stating, “Who am I to judge?”

Despite internal opposition, especially from conservative factions within the Church, Francis remained a unifying figure for the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.

Condolences and tributes have poured in from leaders and communities worldwide.

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who visited the Pope earlier this month, called him “a spiritual beacon not only for Catholics but for all people of goodwill.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as “a global statesman whose message of peace and compassion deeply touched India.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised his “undaunted commitment to the poor and vulnerable.”

In a rare move, Italy’s Serie A football league postponed all seven scheduled matches for the day in mourning, highlighting the Pope’s influence far beyond the religious realm.

Following tradition, Pope Francis’s body will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica for several days to allow faithful from around the world to pay their respects. The funeral is scheduled for Friday, April 25, and will be attended by global dignitaries, faith leaders, and millions of mourners.

In accordance with his personal wishes, Pope Francis will be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, a place he visited frequently and held close to his heart. This marks the first time since 1903 that a pope will be buried outside Vatican grounds.

The College of Cardinals will convene in early May to begin the papal conclave. Currently, 135 cardinal electors under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. The conclave is expected to begin between May 6 and May 11, with the world watching closely to see who will carry forward Francis’s legacy.

Pope Francis leaves behind a Church that is more engaged with the modern world, more attentive to the voices on the margins, and more transparent in its governance. While his papacy was not without controversy, particularly on issues such as gender roles and clergy abuse, his legacy is one of transformation, compassion, and moral courage.

As Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, remarked: “He brought Christ closer to the people, and the people closer to Christ. In life and in death, he remained a shepherd to the very end.”

The world mourns the loss of a spiritual leader, reformer, and symbol of unity in a divided age.