Pope Francis passes away at 88 years, after 12 years of papacy.
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Pope Francis, who transformed the tone of the papacy with a more approachable focus, passed away this Monday in Rome at the age of 88. According to the Vatican, his death occurred at 7:35 a.m., after complications from bronchitis that evolved into bilateral pneumonia. Francis had been hospitalized in February and had faced various health problems for years.
His last public appearance was this past Sunday when he met with the Vice President of the United States, J.D. Vance. With more than a decade at the helm of the Catholic Church, Francis was a figure that marked a before and after in the Vatican: the first pope born in America, the first Jesuit to occupy the throne of St. Peter, and a spiritual leader who, since 2013, sought to bring the Church closer to the marginalized.
Unlike his predecessor, Benedict XVI, identified with a firm defense of doctrinal orthodoxy, Francis opted for a more open and flexible pastoral style. He rejected the papal apartments to live in a more modest residence within the Vatican and prioritized attention to the poor, migrants, and the environment as the axes of his papacy. His statements, often spontaneous, generated admiration both inside and outside the Church.
One of his first symbolic acts was, in 2013, washing the feet of young inmates—including women—in a detention center, breaking with centuries of tradition. That same year, he surprised the world with a phrase that would mark his papacy: 'Who am I to judge?', referring to homosexual priests seeking to serve God.
However, the pope also faced significant challenges, especially in his attempt to address the crisis of sexual abuse within the Church. Although he eliminated the pontifical secret that used to protect accused clerics, many victims and rights advocates considered his measures insufficient to ensure justice.
However, the pope also faced significant challenges, especially in his attempt to address the crisis of sexual abuse within the Church. Although he eliminated the pontifical secret that used to protect accused clerics, many victims and rights advocates considered his measures insufficient to ensure justice.
Despite these setbacks, Francis pushed for a series of profound reforms in the ecclesiastical structure, including greater financial transparency in the Vatican and an openness to the participation of bishops from traditionally peripheral regions. He changed the composition of the College of Cardinals, opening the doors to a future papal election with a more diverse profile, possibly from Asia or Africa.
Humble origins and a vocation marked by pain
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, into a family of Italian immigrants. The son of an accountant and a housewife, he grew up in a modest environment. As a young man, he worked in a sock factory and trained as a chemical technician. At 21, a severe lung infection forced him to have part of his right lung removed, an episode that marked him deeply.
Years later, he entered the seminary and joined the Society of Jesus, known for its commitment to social justice. He was ordained a priest in 1969 and soon became the leader of the Jesuits in Argentina and Uruguay during the turbulent 1970s. His leadership style, which he himself described as authoritarian, generated tensions both in the Church and in political sectors during the military dictatorship.
After a period of isolation in Córdoba— which he described as a time of spiritual crisis— he emerged with a renewed humility. He was appointed bishop in 1992, and in 2001, John Paul II appointed him cardinal. Even then, he stood out for his simplicity: he requested that his appointment not be celebrated and that the funds raised by the faithful be directed to the poor.
In 2013, after the historic resignation of Benedict XVI, he was elected pope in the fifth round of voting at the conclave. He chose the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, a symbol of poverty and love for creation. 'I dream of a Church that is poor and for the poor,' he expressed at that time.
A papacy with a global voice
During his papacy, Francis did not shy away from uncomfortable topics. During his visit to the U.S. in 2015, he urged Congress to act with greater social justice, and at the UN, he denounced the excesses of an economic system focused solely on wealth. He also made a mark on social media: in 2016, upon opening his Instagram account, he surpassed one million followers in less than 12 hours.
In 2021, he became the first pope to visit Iraq, where he called for interreligious understanding and visited places destroyed by ISIS. In 2020, he called for a restructuring of the global financial system, seeking to alleviate the debt of the poorest countries.
Nevertheless, his direct style caused controversies in his later years. In 2024, his call to Ukraine to 'show the courage of the white flag' was interpreted as a concession to Russia, which forced a quick clarification. That same year, he apologized for a comment considered offensive towards homosexual priests.
In his last Easter, already visibly weakened, he presided over the Mass in St. Peter's Square and prayed for civilians in Gaza, Syria, the Rohingya in Myanmar, and victims of human trafficking. 'Peace is not built with weapons, but with outstretched hands and open hearts,' he said.
Francis's legacy will be evaluated for years, both for his advancements and for his limits. But his mark as a pope of human gestures, social sensitivity, and a reforming spirit is already written in the history of the Church and the world.
