Monday, April 21, recognized worldwide as Easter Monday, Argentinian Pope Francis died at age 88. As the world’s first Latin-American pontiff, Francis ministered in a respectful and unassuming manner, guiding the Catholic Church for 12 years. Elected in 2013 as the 266th pope, Francis leaned towards liberal ideas, working with and against other world leaders to take on controversial and political issues to unify the world’s need for help.
Francis dedicated his legacy to mending economic inequality, raising awareness of grave environmental issues and placing importance and attention on social justice. Bringing into the churches a sort of bridge between progressive and traditional Catholics, Francis worked to bring new ideology and stances into the church. Additionally, Francis dedicated a portion of his time to reforming past debate and tension regarding the Vatican’s financial scandal, focusing on acknowledging the past mistakes and taking accountability.
“I think that the leadership of Pope Francis led to the creation of a more welcoming society and created an environment where Catholics and non-Catholics were able to interact. I had many non-Catholic friends who really liked Pope Francis and many of the things he spoke about. Additionally, having been the Pope during Covid-19, I think one of the biggest contributions was his work in encouraging the continued growth and development of our faith even while the world was in turmoil,” magnet senior Charles Klock said.
Additionally, Francis notably worked to keep traditional diplomatic utility, paving his way as a reformer. He also challenged traditionalist views with his focus on migrant issues, as well as poverty and capitalism. Furthermore, Francis advocated for gender equality and the empowerment of women. While mixing conservative views with new thoughts and ideas on rule over the church, the Pope truly created significant change throughout numerous lives.
Francis had experienced declining health issues after becoming hospitalized for severe pneumonia, making his final appearance outside of the Vatican on Easter Day and passing at 7:35 a.m. the next morning. Celebrated for nine days post-death, individuals across the globe will celebrate his impact on the Catholic Church. As individuals worldwide both mourn and celebrate the death of Francis, the process of selecting a new pope within the next three weeks begins. After the pontiff’s death, the camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, administers the Holy See until conclaves select a successor. Depending on the political and social values of the next Pope, however, will determine which direction the church leans toward, and how the church will engage with current issues.
“Through many of his actions, he helped expand the conversation of Catholicism and bring people of faith and secular life together. I believe that Pope Francis’s death will cause great sadness for not only Catholics like myself who grew up listening to and learning from him, but also non-Catholics who agreed with much of his teaching. I hope that this can help bring the two communities together further and, as a Catholic, I hope that conversation about the incredible life of Pope Francis leads more to the faith,” Klock said.
