Vatican City, April 21 — Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first Latin American pontiff and a transformative figure in the Roman Catholic Church, died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 in Vatican City.
The Vatican confirmed his death, marking the end of a papacy that spanned over a decade and brought sweeping reforms, marked by a consistent message of compassion and inclusivity.
Elected in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Francis became the first pope from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere.
Renowned for his humility, Francis broke with Vatican tradition by choosing to live in a guesthouse instead of the Apostolic Palace. He was often seen directly engaging with members of the Christian faithful, particularly those on the margins of society.
Throughout his tenure, he sought to confront global issues head-on. He declared the death penalty inadmissible in all cases and denounced life imprisonment and solitary confinement as violations of human dignity.
His 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ called for urgent climate action and criticized the global economic system for exploiting both people and the environment. Under his leadership, Church doctrine was amended to reject not just the use but even the possession of nuclear weapons.
Francis also pursued interfaith dialogue, forging historic relationships with Muslim leaders and calling for peace and cooperation across religious lines. He took cautious but visible steps toward inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals in the life of the Church while maintaining traditional teachings on homosexuality.
He opened new roles for women within Church administration, though he upheld the Church’s stance on a male-only priesthood.
Francis remained doctrinally conservative on abortion, priestly celibacy, and contraception. However, his pastoral tone was notably gentler—offering forgiveness to women who had abortions and authorizing priests to grant absolution.
His pontificate also wrestled with longstanding Church challenges. He faced criticism over the Vatican's response to clerical sexual abuse cases but introduced mechanisms to hold bishops accountable. Internally, he contended with resistance from conservative factions opposed to his reform agenda.
Despite health complications in recent years, including surgeries and mobility limitations, Francis remained active in his ministry—continuing to advocate for the poor, displaced, and marginalized.
His death has brought mourning to Vatican City, and the formal process of convening a conclave to elect the next pope has begun