By Abigail Holliday
Staff Writer
Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome, leader of the Roman Catholic Church and Patriarch of the West, passed away at the age of 88 on the morning of Monday, April 21.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio assumed the name Pope Francis after St. Francis of Assisi in 2013 following his election, the first pope to ever do so. St. Francis was a 13th-century Italian friar and poet who devoted his life to poverty and charity under the Catholic faith. He believed Francis was “the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation, with which we don’t have such a good relationship.”
Nicknamed “The People’s Pope,” Francis was born to Italian immigrants in Buenos Aires, Argentina, making him the first Latin American pope and the first non-European pope in 1,200 years, according to TIME. He was also the first Jesuit pope; when interviewed by the Holy See, he stated that he chose to be a Jesuit due to “the missionary spirit, community and discipline.”
Francis passed away at 7:35 a.m. local time from a stroke, coupled with a coma and heart failure. He also had a history of other various health issues: multiple bronchiectasis, Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, arterial hypertension and multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, according to the Holy See Press Office.
Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, the director of the directorate of health and hygiene of the Vatican City State, released an official statement announcing the death of Pope Francis.
“I hereby certify that His Holiness Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) born in Buenos Aires (Argentina) on December 17, 1936, resident in Vatican City, Vatican citizen, died at 7:35 a.m. on 21/04/2025 in his apartment at the Domus Sanctae Marthae (Vatican City).”
During his 12 years as the Bishop of Rome, Francis used his power to perform many acts that affirmed his vow to embody a man of peace and a steward of all creation. He is known for his progressive stance on people within the LGBTQ+ community.
In an interview with Italian journalist Father Antonio Spadaro, Francis stated ,“Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?”
In 2022, Francis advocated for gay children, instructing parents to not shun their children, but rather love them as Jesus does, according to the National Catholic Reporter.
He spoke at large about the importance of protecting the world we inhabit, stating that we have a “moral obligation” to preserve our resources. He believed that the Catechism should include ecological sins, including all forms of pollution, “throw-away culture,” deforestation, contributions to climate change and exploitation of Mother Earth’s natural resources.
Francis was considered to be a more “progressive” pope compared to his traditionalist predecessors. He also spoke on divorce and abortion, saying that everything should be looked at on a case-by-case basis, and at its root, always look at the person first, not the situation, like Jesus would do.
Following the death of a pope, centuries-old traditions and rites emerge to honor him and facilitate the election of his successor. According to the New York Times, this includes destroying his papal ring, sealing his rooms. Cardinals from across the world will be invited to Rome to attend Francis’ funeral and choose the new pope 15 to 20 days after death.
The conclave, 120 eligible cardinals under the age of 80, seclude themselves in the Sistine Chapel and vote in an anonymous ballot. A two-thirds majority is required and continues until they’ve reached that majority, where they then can announce to the public in a dramatic flair. After every vote, white or black smoke is created by burning the ballots, white signaling a new pope has been selected and black means another vote will take place, according to TIME.
A viewing is set for the public to begin on Wednesday and last for three days to allow everyone to give their respects and prayers. This is a time of mourning for all Catholics; soccer matches in Argentina and Italy have been canceled, world leaders are showing their respects and the countries of Vatican City and Italy are preparing for his funeral, according to the New York Times.
His funeral will take place this Saturday, April 26, outside of St. Peter’s Basilica. Francis will be buried in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major adorned solely with the inscription, “Franciscus,” according to his last Testament. He also willed, in his last wish, that “the suffering that marked the final part of my life, I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and brotherhood among peoples.”
The Cardinals met this Tuesday and following tradition, the conclave will initiate between May 5 and May 10. This begs the question whether the new pope will share Francis’ progressive beliefs or if they will return to a more traditional church.
