Pope Francis, Champion Of Progressive Catholicism & Foe Of Church’s Right, Dies At 88

Baila Eve ZismanApril 21, 2025, 7:31 pmHome Featured, News >

Pope Francis died on Monday morning at 88.

Francis became the first Latin American pontiff in 2013 and was known for his gentle, humble demeanor as well as his critique of conservative politics.

His last public appearance was on Easter Sunday, when he blessed thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square.

Francis’ reforms received considerable criticism from conservatives within the Catholic Church, but many praised him for his progressive thinking in adapting the church and Catholic religion to its followers.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in a statement, “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his church.”

Farrell stated, “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized…With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

Francis was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital on February 14, 2025, for a respiratory illness that developed into double pneumonia. He was there for 38 days, and his doctors later said that he was so sick they had considered halting his treatment to allow him to die. However, Francis recovered and was discharged last month. Francis had part of one of his lungs removed when he was younger, and he sought treatment for bronchitis multiple times throughout his life.

Francis’ death kicks off the nine days of mourning. On Monday evening, his body will be placed in a coffin, and his burial will take place traditionally between the fourth and sixth day after his death.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio to Italian migrants in Buenos Aires in 1936, Francis was the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years. An advocate for migrants, the poor, and the environment, Francis further distinguished himself from his predecessors, who lived in the apartments of the Apostolic Palace, by residing in the Domus Santa Marta guesthouse, saying it allowed him to “live in community with others.” He often asserted, “My people are poor and I am one of them.”

Prior to deciding to become a priest, Francis held a large variety of jobs, including janitor and nightclub bouncer. He graduated as a chemical technician, studied in Chile and Argentina, and taught literature and psychology at Immaculate Conception College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Colegio del Salvador in Buenos Aires. He went on to earn a degree in theology from San Miguel’s Colegio de San José. He was ordained as a priest in 1969, and in 1998, he became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. Made Cardinal in 2001, Francis was elected Pope in March 2013 after the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.

Francis sought to reform the church by eradicating Catholicism’s trademark exclusionary culture. He demanded that the church be welcoming to all, emphasizing the inclusion of gay and divorced Catholics and tackling elitist mentalities among the clergy. He created a larger role for women working in the Vatican and authorized priests to perform blessings on same-sex couples, while also taking charge on issues of clerical sexual abuse, creating laws that would hold bishops accountable for coverups.

Farrell will act as head of the Vatican until a new pope is chosen.