Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and one of the most politically outspoken popes in modern history, died early Monday morning at the age of 88. His death occurred the day after Easter and was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who described Francis as a man dedicated to the service of God and the marginalized. His passing initiates the traditional nine-day mourning period before a new pope is elected.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis was elected pope in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI—the first papal resignation in nearly 600 years. From the outset, Francis signaled a shift away from the Church’s historical conservatism, embracing a tone of reform that would earn him both praise and criticism.
His papacy was defined by strong stances on issues such as immigration, climate change, and the Church’s role in addressing poverty. In one particularly divisive moment, he publicly rebuked then-presidential candidate Donald Trump’s border policies, calling the desire to build walls rather than bridges “not Christian.” Trump, in return, denounced the Pope’s judgment of faith as “disgraceful.”
Francis also made waves within the Church itself. He appointed cardinals from underrepresented regions, expanded roles for women within Church leadership, and amended canonical laws to give more autonomy to bishops in liturgical matters. While these moves were celebrated in progressive circles, they caused friction among more traditional Catholics.
Controversially, Francis drew criticism for what many viewed as leniency in the Church’s ongoing sex abuse crisis. Despite calls for stronger disciplinary action, he declined to excommunicate certain clerics accused of abuse. Some viewed this as a failure to hold abusers fully accountable during a pivotal moment in the Church’s modern reckoning.
His remarks on cultural issues also attracted scrutiny. In 2013, he lamented the Church’s obsession with matters like abortion and same-sex marriage, saying the Church’s role should not be to insistently impose doctrine but to minister compassionately. His attempts to reframe the Church’s tone often left some faithful feeling that moral clarity was being traded for political engagement.
Before his election to the papacy, Bergoglio had his own controversies, including allegations that he failed to protect fellow priests during Argentina’s military dictatorship—charges that were disputed and complicated by later reconciliations. Even before becoming pope, his complex relationship with the Vatican and perceived outsider status had marked him as a wildcard.
With his passing, the Church enters a period of reflection and transition. The conclave of cardinals will soon gather to elect the next pope—one who may either continue Francis’s activist legacy or steer the Church back toward traditional orthodoxy.
His death leaves behind a Church deeply shaped by his decisions, rhetoric, and worldview—one that engaged with the political issues of the day but also divided opinion among the faithful. The next leader of the Catholic Church will face the task of either building upon or rebalancing that legacy.
