Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, bringing an end to a historic and transformative papacy marked by humility, bold reforms, and advocacy for the marginalised.
The Vatican confirmed his peaceful passing at 7:35 a.m. local time. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, in a statement shared via the Vatican’s Telegram channel, said: “With profound sadness, I announce the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis… His life was wholly devoted to serving God and the Church.”
His death came just eight days after he appeared at Palm Sunday Mass in Saint Peter’s Square—an appearance that had inspired hope among the faithful.
Born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Italian immigrant parents, Francis was the eldest of five children. He grew up in a modest, working-class home and maintained a lifelong dedication to the poor. After working various humble jobs, including as a bouncer and janitor, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1958. He was ordained a priest in 1969 and became the Jesuits’ provincial in Argentina by 1973.
Bergoglio was consecrated auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992 and became archbishop in 1998. In 2001, Pope John Paul II elevated him to cardinal. He was admired for his simple lifestyle, often riding the bus and cooking his own meals. On March 13, 2013, he became the first Latin American, first Jesuit, and first pope from the Southern Hemisphere. He took the name Francis, inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi.
Throughout his papacy, Francis rejected traditional papal luxuries, lived in modest quarters, and focused on Church reform and transparency, particularly within the Vatican bureaucracy. He issued powerful moral calls for climate action through his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ and consistently championed the rights of the poor and excluded.
Francis welcomed dialogue on LGBTQ issues, divorce, and family life. He called for a Church of compassion and mercy rather than judgment. He also confronted past abuses by Church officials, issuing apologies and seeking reconciliation, most notably in Canada, where he described the abuses in Indigenous residential schools as “cultural genocide.”
Pope Francis leaves behind a profound legacy of humility, justice, and spiritual courage. The Church and the world mourn a leader whose life was a testament to service, compassion, and reform.
