Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Catholic Church who sought to make the church more inclusive, passed away on Easter Monday, as confirmed by Vatican officials. He was 88 years old.

Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, shared the news in a statement: “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church. He taught us to embody the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Triune.”

Francis, who had a portion of one lung removed in his youth, was hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14 due to bronchitis, which escalated into double pneumonia and several respiratory crises.

Health Challenges and Resilience

He spent 38 days in the hospital, marking the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy, but was released on March 23. On Easter Sunday, he emerged from recovery to bless thousands in St. Peter’s Square.

A Journey from Argentina to the Papacy

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina on December 17, 1936, Francis initially pursued a career in chemistry. He was also known for his love of tango, which he danced in his youth before answering the call to the priesthood.

After surviving life-threatening pneumonia at 21, Bergoglio devoted himself to religion, joining the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1958. He was ordained as a priest in 1969 and rose to become the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, later being elected a cardinal in 2001.

Bergoglio was appointed pope in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. His election was historic: he became the first pope born outside Europe since the 8th-century Syrian Pope Gregory III, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, the first from the Americas, and the first Jesuit pope. He chose the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Engaging with the Modern World

Shortly after his election, Francis embraced social media, joining Twitter (now X) and gaining over 25 million followers within three years. In 2016, he launched an Instagram account, which now boasts 9.8 million followers.

As pope, Francis was known for his less formal and more progressive approach, which stirred controversy among traditionalists. He opted not to reside in the traditional papal apartments, instead living in the Vatican guest house. He openly criticized consumerism and unregulated capitalism while advocating for environmental issues and promoting inter-religious dialogue. Although he expressed sympathy towards LGBTQ and women’s rights, he maintained the Catholic Church’s traditional stances on same-sex marriage, abortion, and the ordination of women as priests.

Progressive Stances and Social Justice

While affirming that marriage is between a man and a woman, Francis, during a 2023 Synod of Bishops that included women and laypeople for the first time, encouraged priests to exercise “pastoral charity” regarding requests for blessings of same-sex marriages, a move welcomed by many gay Catholics as a significant step forward.

Throughout his papacy, Francis emphasized a theology centered on God’s mercy and serving the underprivileged. His first apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, condemned economic inequality and urged the church to embrace its global diversity. His inaugural encyclical, Laudato si’, framed climate change as a moral issue linked to unchecked capitalism and human exploitation, advocating for Indigenous rights.

In 2018, he revised the Church’s catechism to categorically reject the death penalty, labeling it “inadmissible” as it violates human dignity.

A Cultural Icon

Celebrated by global liberals as the most progressive pope to date, Francis attracted numerous fans from the entertainment industry. High-profile figures such as Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Bono, and George and Amal Clooney attended various papal events during his tenure.

In 2014, he invited Patti Smith to perform at the Vatican’s Christmas concert, where she sang “O Holy Night” with the Vatican orchestra, a decision that sparked debate among conservative Catholics.

During his first visit to the United States in 2015, Francis made history by addressing the U.S. Congress and sharing the stage with Aretha Franklin at the Festival of Families in Philadelphia, an event organized by the Vatican-sponsored World Meeting of Families.

In 2016, acclaimed director Martin Scorsese had a private audience with the pope before a Vatican screening of his film “Silence,” which explores the persecution of Christians in 17th-century Japan, highlighting the pope’s support for artistic endeavors that reflect moral and ethical challenges.

That same year, filmmaker Wim Wenders was granted unprecedented access to Pope Francis over two years to create “A Man of His Word,” a documentary that delves into the pontiff’s views on pressing global issues such as social justice, immigration, and ecology.

Global Outreach and Leadership

In 2019, Francis became the first pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula, meeting with Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb, a significant figure in Sunni Islam, fostering interfaith dialogue.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he canceled regular appearances at St. Peter’s Square and urged priests to support healthcare workers and the sick. He also called for a universal basic wage to mitigate the pandemic’s economic impact and strongly condemned anti-vaccination misinformation, asserting that receiving the COVID-19 vaccine was a “moral obligation.”

Francis faced criticism for his handling of sexual abuse cases within the Church, similar to the scrutiny faced by his predecessor, Benedict XVI. In 2018, he apologized for the Church’s slow response to abuse scandals and initiated a Vatican investigation that led to the resignation of three Chilean bishops. The exposure of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s abuse of minors resulted in his dismissal from the Church in 2019. Francis was accused of covering up McCarrick’s actions, but an investigation largely cleared him, placing responsibility on his predecessors.

Final Reflections

In January 2025, as his health declined, Francis gave a rare TV interview where he criticized newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans as a “disgrace.”

In early March, from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, he expressed gratitude to supporters for their prayers during his recovery in a heartfelt audio message, showcasing his understanding of the power of direct communication.

Francis is survived by his only living sibling, María Elena Bergoglio, and his niece, Cristina Bergoglio.