The world is mourning the death of Pope Francis, who passed away peacefully on the morning of April 21, 2025 — the day after Christians celebrated Resurrection Sunday.
The late pontiff, aged 88, leaves behind a legacy marked by simplicity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the poor and marginalised.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in the Flores neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was the eldest of five children in a devout Catholic family.
His father was an Italian immigrant who fled fascist Italy in 1929, and his mother was of Italian descent, born in Argentina. Raised in a modest, working-class home, Bergoglio remained deeply connected to ordinary people throughout his life.
Before entering religious life, he worked as a janitor and nightclub bouncer.
At 21, a severe respiratory illness led to the removal of part of one lung, an experience that shaped his spiritual journey.
His calling to the priesthood came after a profound moment during confession. He joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1958 and was ordained a priest in 1969.
He became the Jesuit provincial of Argentina at age 36 and later served as rector of the Jesuit seminary in San Miguel. Despite later tensions with Jesuit leadership, he was appointed Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and became a cardinal in 2001. Known for his humility, he lived in a simple apartment, used public transport, and cooked his own meals.
On March 13, 2013, he made history as the first Jesuit and Latin American pope, adopting the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. His papacy was defined by a focus on the poor, climate action, reform, and inclusivity. He famously published Laudato Si’, a groundbreaking encyclical on climate change, and openly addressed issues like LGBTQ inclusion and clerical abuse.
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One of the most powerful acts of his papacy was his apology to Indigenous communities in Canada for abuses in residential schools, calling it a “cultural genocide.” He consistently pushed for a more merciful and welcoming Church, challenging centuries-old norms with a pastoral approach rooted in compassion.
Pope Francis’s final public appearance was at Palm Sunday Mass on April 13, 2025. His passing, just a day after Easter celebrations, has been seen by many as deeply symbolic, closing the chapter of a historic papacy that redefined the image of the modern Church.
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