BREAKING: Vatican Confirms on Easter Monday Pope Francis, the First Latin American Pontiff Who Steered the Catholic Church Toward Inclusivity and Environmental Justice, Dies at 88 After a 12-Year Papacy Marked by Health Struggles and Reform

Pope Francis, the First Latin American Pontiff Who Redefined the Catholic Church, Dies at 88 After a Transformative 12-Year Papacy

By Ace
April 21, 2025 | Vatican City

Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Catholic Church and the first pontiff from Latin America, has passed away at the age of 88, Vatican officials confirmed on Monday. The Argentinian-born pope, who served since 2013, died at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after a prolonged battle with respiratory illness, including bronchitis that developed into double pneumonia. His death marks the end of a 12-year papacy that sought to bridge the Catholic Church with the modern world, championing inclusivity, environmental justice, and interfaith dialogue, while also navigating deep divisions within the Church.

A Life of Service: From Buenos Aires to the Vatican

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis’ journey to the papacy was as unconventional as his tenure. Initially trained as a chemist, the young Bergoglio was known for his love of tango—a passion he maintained even as he rose through the ranks of the Church. At 21, a life-threatening bout of pneumonia, which resulted in the removal of part of one lung, led him to dedicate his life to religion. He joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1958, was ordained a priest in 1969, and later became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, before being named a cardinal in 2001.

Elected pope in 2013 following the historic resignation of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, Bergoglio chose the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, signaling his commitment to humility, simplicity, and care for the poor. As the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, the first from the Americas, and the first Jesuit, his appointment broke centuries of tradition, setting the tone for a papacy that would challenge the status quo.

A Papacy of Reform and Controversy

Pope Francis’ tenure was marked by a progressive vision that often put him at odds with conservative factions within the Church. Rejecting the opulence of the traditional papal apartments, he opted to live in the Vatican’s guest house, a symbolic gesture of his commitment to humility. His theology emphasized God’s mercy, service to the marginalized, and a global perspective on the Church’s role. In his first apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, he denounced economic inequality and unchecked capitalism, calling for a Church that embraced diversity. His 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, positioned climate change as a moral issue, condemning environmental exploitation and advocating for the rights of Indigenous peoples—a stance that earned him praise from global leaders and environmentalists alike.

Francis also made strides toward inclusivity within the Church. In 2023, he opened the Synod of Bishops to women and laypeople for the first time, a historic move toward broader representation. While he upheld the Church’s traditional positions on issues like same-sex marriage, abortion, and the ordination of women as priests, he called for “pastoral charity” in addressing requests for blessings of same-sex unions, a position that gay Catholics hailed as a step forward. In 2018, he revised the Church’s catechism to declare the death penalty “inadmissible,” aligning Catholic teaching with his belief in the dignity of all human life.

However, his papacy was not without controversy. Francis faced criticism for his handling of the Church’s sexual abuse crisis, with some accusing him of responding too slowly. In 2018, he launched a Vatican investigation into abuse cases in Chile, leading to the resignation of three bishops, and in 2019, former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick was dismissed following revelations of abuse. Despite these actions, critics, including Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, accused Francis of covering up McCarrick’s actions—a charge a Vatican investigation largely refuted, placing blame on Francis’ predecessors.

A Modern Pope: Communication, Culture, and Global Outreach

More than any pope before him, Francis understood the power of communication in the digital age. Shortly after his election, he joined Twitter (now X), amassing over 25 million followers in three years, and later launched an Instagram account that now has 9.8 million followers. His willingness to engage with the world extended to popular culture: he welcomed figures like Patti Smith, who performed at the Vatican’s 2014 Christmas concert, and hosted celebrities such as Bono, Leonardo DiCaprio, and George and Amal Clooney during papal audiences. In 2016, director Wim Wenders was granted unprecedented access to Francis for the documentary A Man of His Word, which explored the pope’s views on global challenges like social justice and ecology.

Francis also made history with his global outreach. In 2019, he became the first pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula, meeting with Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb in Abu Dhabi to foster interfaith dialogue between Catholicism and Sunni Islam. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he canceled public appearances at St. Peter’s Square, encouraged priests to support healthcare workers, and called for a universal basic wage to address economic fallout. He also took a firm stance against anti-vaccine misinformation, declaring vaccination a “moral obligation.”

Health Struggles and Final Days

Francis’ health had been a concern throughout his papacy, given his history of respiratory issues and the physical demands of his role. In recent years, he underwent surgeries for a hernia and intestinal issues, and his mobility was limited, often requiring a wheelchair. On February 14, 2025, he was admitted to Gemelli Hospital with bronchitis, which quickly escalated into double pneumonia. Web reports from early 2025 indicate that Francis resisted hospitalization initially but was warned of the risk of death if he remained in the Vatican. Despite intensive treatment, his condition deteriorated, with the Vatican reporting a “polymicrobial infection” and a “complex clinical picture” in the weeks leading up to his death.

Even as his health declined, Francis remained active in his mission. In January 2025, he gave a rare TV interview condemning U.S. President Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans as a “disgrace.” In March, while hospitalized, he approved a new three-year process for Catholic Church reforms, signaling his intent to continue leading despite speculation of resignation. His final public message, a pre-recorded audio in Spanish broadcast on March 7, thanked the faithful for their prayers, marking the first time his voice was heard in three weeks.

Global Reactions and the Church’s Future

The announcement of Francis’ death, delivered via a video statement from the Vatican, prompted an outpouring of grief and tributes worldwide. On X, users expressed a range of emotions, from simple prayers (Greg @GMarwing: “”) to shock (CaydenNextDoor @CaydenNextDoor: “Damn”). The Vatican’s modern approach to announcing his passing reflects Francis’ own embrace of technology, a stark contrast to the traditional methods of past centuries.

World leaders, religious figures, and environmental advocates lauded Francis’ legacy. UN Environment highlighted his role in inspiring the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative, which united faith leaders to combat tropical deforestation. Filmmaker Martin Scorsese, who met Francis in 2016, called him “a beacon of compassion whose voice resonated far beyond the Church.”

Francis is survived by his sister, María Elena Bergoglio, and his niece, Cristina Bergoglio. As the Catholic Church mourns, attention now turns to the conclave that will elect his successor. His death comes at a pivotal moment, with the Church facing internal divisions over issues like women’s roles, LGBTQ rights, and the balance between tradition and modernity. Francis’ progressive appointees to key posts, including Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re as dean of the College of Cardinals, may influence the outcome, but the battle to succeed him is expected to be highly politicized, especially given recent tensions with figures like U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

Pope Francis’ papacy was a testament to his belief in a Church that serves the poor, embraces dialogue, and confronts global challenges with courage. As the world reflects on his legacy, the question remains: will his vision for a more inclusive Catholicism endure, or will the Church revert to its traditional roots? For now, the faithful gather in St. Peter’s Square, lighting candles and praying for a leader who, in his own words, sought to embody “hope” in a fractured world.