Pope Francis Dies at 88: A Legacy of Compassion, Controversy, and Change

The Vatican announced today that Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, following complications from a respiratory illness that developed into pneumonia in both lungs. He spent his final weeks in hospital care, with limited public appearances.

The Conclave, during which cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pontiff, is expected to commence within the next 15 days.

Unlike many of his predecessors, Pope Francis will not be buried in St. Peter’s Basilica. Instead, his final resting place will be the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, following a public mourning period during which his body will lie in state at St. Peter’s.

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A Farewell After Easter

Remarkably, just one day before his passing—on Easter Sunday—Francis appeared before thousands of Catholic faithful in St. Peter’s Square, offering his traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing. Although he delegated the Easter Mass to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, he addressed the crowd from the balcony for over 20 minutes, blessing infants and waving to a jubilant crowd chanting “Viva il Papa!”

US Vice President JD Vance, who was in Rome for Easter with his family, had a brief meeting with Francis. The Vatican described the encounter as lasting “only a few minutes.” Their meeting came after tension regarding the Pope’s criticism of the Trump administration’s handling of migrants—an issue central to Francis’ papacy.

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A Historic Papacy

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, the future pope was the son of Italian immigrants and one of five siblings. His early life included work as a nightclub bouncer and chemical technician before joining the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), where he was ordained at 32.

Known for his humility and social commitment, Bergoglio earned the nickname “The Slum Bishop” for his outreach to the poor in Argentina. In 1998, he became Archbishop of Buenos Aires and was appointed cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.

He was elected pope in March 2013, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI, who had resigned—the first papal resignation in nearly 600 years. Francis became the first Latin American pope and the first Jesuit to hold the role.

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A Pontiff of Progress and Polarization

Francis will be remembered as a transformational yet polarizing figure. His papacy was marked by efforts to modernize the Church while maintaining doctrinal roots.

• He placed environmental issues at the forefront, releasing the Laudato si’ encyclical and advocating for climate action.

• He welcomed same-sex couples, allowing priests to bless them under certain circumstances.

• He showed compassion toward divorced Catholics, transgender individuals, and migrants.

• Yet, he upheld the Church’s traditional stance on abortion, denouncing it as a “grave moral crisis.”

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Facing Criticism and Controversy

Despite his progressive tone, Francis faced considerable backlash, especially regarding his role during Argentina’s military dictatorship (1976–1983). While he later issued an apology on behalf of the Church and called for truth and reconciliation, critics accused him of failing to act decisively during the junta’s reign.

His involvement in the Catholic Church’s abuse crisis was extensive. He frequently called for transparency and justice, meeting with survivors, denouncing cover-ups, and pledging to root out abuse.

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A Global Shepherd

Francis was one of the most globally traveled popes, visiting countries across every continent. His final major international journey took him across Southeast Asia and Oceania in September 2024, where he drew crowds as large as 600,000 in Timor-Leste.

Other notable visits included:

• The Middle East (where he visited the al-Aqsa Mosque and prayed at the Western Wall)

• The US and Cuba (2015)

• Ireland (2018)

• Iraq (2021)

• Belgium (2024), where he declared: “Evil must not be hidden. It must be exposed.”

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Health Decline and Final Days

Francis’ health had been in steady decline:

• He had a portion of one lung removed at age 21.

• He was hospitalized for bronchitis in March 2023.

• Underwent abdominal surgery in June of the same year.

• Suffered two falls in late 2024 and early 2025, one of which left his arm in a sling.

• He cancelled his COP28 climate summit trip due to lung inflammation.

Despite these setbacks, Francis remained active until his final days, culminating with his surprising appearance on Easter Sunday in the popemobile.

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The End of an Era

Pope Francis leaves behind a complicated yet powerful legacy. He was a pope of the people, a bold reformer, and a man who balanced faith, compassion, and controversy.

His vision of a more inclusive and conscious Church will continue to influence Catholicism for generations. As the world mourns, one thing remains clear: the papacy of Pope Francis reshaped what it means to be the leader of 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.

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