Pope Francis, known for his forward-thinking changes to church governance, died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at 7:35 a.m. local time at the age of 88.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis made history in 2013, becoming the first pope from the Americas. He was also the first Jesuit pope as well as being the first to take the name Francis after Saint Francis of Assisi.
Francis’s transformative time as pope has ended after 12 years. His dedication to social justice for the poor, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, modernization of the church, economic change, international diplomacy and environmental concerns marked by his 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si’” will be remembered greatly.
Although facing valuable criticism from all sides, his progressive ideas were questioned by conservative factions of the Church and traditional views were protested by those advocating for gender equality and reproductive rights, Francis’s vision of a more inclusive and compassionate faith persisted through his papacy.
Francis’s death casts a somber tone over Holy Week celebrations around the world as more than 1.3 billion Catholics mourn his death worldwide. Pope Francis leaves a legacy of humility, service, hope and influence extending far beyond the Vatican.
“We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love. Be poor among the poor,” Pope Francis said in an interview with La Repubblica.
