Francis, the First Latin American Pope, Dies at 88

Pope Francis, who became the first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff, died at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta at age 88. The cause of death was a stroke, followed by a coma, and an irreversible cardio-circulatory collapse. His death was announced one day after he was seen blessing the faithful from his wheelchair on Easter Sunday—a testament to his tireless spirit even as his body weakened.

Francis adopted the papacy in 2013 at a time of deep crisis for the Catholic Church. The Church had been facing clerical sexual abuse scandals, dwindling congregations, and a growing call for more inclusive leadership. In response, Francis ushered a new era. His leadership style was reported as more pastoral rather than dogmatic, prioritizing inclusion over tradition. He welcomed conversations about issues once labeled as taboo: priestly celibacy, communion for divorced Catholics, role of females in the Church. However, although he created a space for dialogue, there weren’t necessarily the decisive changes that progressives hoped for. His papacy frustrated traditionalists who accused him of diluting Church teachings, particularly on matters of sexuality and liturgy. Conservatives viewed his restriction of the traditional Latin Mass and his embrace of same-sex couple blessings as a departure from orthodoxy. Yet to millions around the world, Francis symbolized a more merciful, accessible, and compassionate Church.

Francis consistently advocated for migrants, the poor, and the environment. Early in his papacy, he visited Lampedusa to mourn migrants lost at sea, setting the tone for a global ministry focused on the peripheries.

Pope Francis reshaped the Church’s leadership, appointing cardinals from the developing world and ensuring that his influence would extend well beyond his papacy. Whether the next pope continues his path of reform remains uncertain. Yet the groundwork Francis laid — a more open, humble, and globally conscious Church — will endure as his most significant legacy.

In the words of the Pope, “We are often chained in the prison of habit... scared by change.”

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/21/world/europe/pope-francis-dead.html?searchResultPosition=4