Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome, dies at 88

Pope Francis has died today, Easter Monday, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta in Rome, the Vatican said in a video statement.

From Jorge Bergoglio to Pope Francis

Pope Francis (88 years old), whose secular name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

He was the son of Italian immigrants; his father, Mario, was an accountant and railway employee, while his mother, Regina, was a homemaker and took care of their five children. Before becoming a priest, Bergoglio graduated as a chemical technician.

At the age of 21, he decided to enter the seminary and join the Society of Jesus. He was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969. Throughout his career, he held several key positions within the Church, including provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina and rector of the Colegio Máximo de San José. In 1992, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires, and in 1998, he became archbishop of Buenos Aires.

On March 13, 2013, he was elected Pope, becoming the first Jesuit pontiff and the first from the Americas. From the time of his election, he became known for his focus on humility, social justice, and Church reform.

Francis’ election as Pope

His election as Pope took place after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI (who stepped down on February 11, 2013), citing his advanced age and the deterioration of his physical and mental strength as the main reasons.

Benedict XVI was the first Pope in history to resign. In his official statement, he mentioned that, after repeatedly examining his conscience before God, he had come to the certainty that he no longer had the capacity to carry out the ministry of God.

Besides the official reason, speculation arose about other possible causes for his resignation. During his pontificate, Benedict XVI faced several scandals, such as the Vatileaks case, where confidential Vatican documents were leaked, and allegations of covering up sexual abuse committed by priests.

The process of electing a new Pope was carried out in a conclave, a gathering of the cardinals of the Catholic Church in the Sistine Chapel to vote in secret until one of the candidates obtained a two-thirds majority.

In Francis’ case, he was elected after five rounds of voting. When the necessary majority was reached, the ballots were burned, producing white smoke, signaling to the world that a new Pope had been chosen. Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, known for his dedication to the poor and humility.

Reforms of Pope Francis

Pope Francis has implemented several significant reforms in the Catholic Church since his election in 2013.

Reform of the Roman Curia

Francis worked to make the Curia more efficient and transparent. In 2022, he reorganized the dicasteries (ministries) and prioritized evangelization.

Fight against corruption

He took steps to improve financial transparency in the Vatican, including the creation of a Secretariat for the Economy (2014) and the implementation of an investment framework to combat corruption.

Protection of minors

He addressed sexual abuse cases within the Church with greater rigor. In 2019, he organized a summit on child protection and made it mandatory for clergy to report any cases of abuse.

Inclusion of women and laypeople

He promoted a greater role for women and laypeople in leadership positions within the Church, although he has not allowed women to become priests.

LGBTQ+ inclusion

He adopted a more inclusive attitude toward the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing the need to welcome all believers without discrimination.

Controversies of Pope Francis

Pope Francis has been at the center of several controversies during his pontificate.

1. Abortion – Francis compared abortion to “hiring a hitman” to solve a problem. Although he has expressed empathy for women who have experienced it, his statements have been controversial.
2. Homosexuality – He took a more inclusive stance on the LGBTQ+ community, even saying that the Church should apologize to homosexuals for how they have been treated. However, he opposes same-sex marriage.
3. Women in the Priesthood – Despite promoting greater female participation in leadership roles, he has maintained the Church’s traditional position of not allowing women to be ordained.
4. Argentine Politics – His opinions on Argentine politics, especially his relationship with the governments of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and Mauricio Macri, have been the subject of debate.
5. Armenian Genocide – In 2015, Francis referred to the massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as “the first genocide of the 20th century”, which caused diplomatic tensions with Turkey.

Pope Francis and other religions

Pope Francis promoted dialogue and meetings with leaders of different religions to foster peace and mutual understanding.

In 2019, he signed the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace alongside Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayyeb.

He maintained close relations with Muslim leaders, highlighting the importance of brotherhood and cooperation. His visit to the United Arab Emirates (2019) was historic, as he became the first Pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula.

In 2023, during his visit to Mongolia, he met with Buddhist leaders, stressing the importance of peace and harmony between religions.

He continued the work of his predecessors in strengthening relations with the Jewish community. He visited synagogues and firmly condemned antisemitism.

He also worked to strengthen ties with Orthodox and Protestant Christian churches, holding multiple meetings with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and other Christian leaders.