Pope Francis, Global Religious Leader and Advocate, Dies at 88

Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and the first pope from the Global South, has passed away at the age of 88. The Vatican confirmed the cause of death as complications from a stroke, followed by a coma and heart failure. He had recently been released from the hospital after struggling with pneumonia, bronchitis, and other health issues.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, the son of Italian immigrants, Francis brought a humble yet fearless approach to the papacy. Elected in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, he quickly became one of the most beloved popes in recent memory, known for his warmth, humility, and outspokenness on global issues.

Throughout his tenure, Pope Francis spoke to more than just Catholics—he reached out to the world. He championed the environment, decried the arms trade, criticized global inequality, and defended migrants. In 2016, he openly condemned then-President Trump’s border wall proposal as “not Christian,” and in 2025 corrected Vice President Vance on Christian duties toward immigrants.

Despite his popularity, Francis was not without controversy. Some conservatives accused him of straying too far from church doctrine, while progressives often felt he didn’t go far enough on issues like LGBTQ inclusion and the role of women in the church. Still, his efforts to modernize and humanize the Church made a lasting impression.

Francis brought the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi—the saint he chose to name himself after—into the heart of the Vatican. He broke with tradition by living in a modest Vatican hotel rather than the grand papal apartments and rejected the bulletproof popemobile in favor of mingling freely with crowds. His simple gestures, such as embracing the sick and disabled, endeared him to millions.

Before entering the priesthood, Bergoglio once worked as a nightclub bouncer, a reminder of his grounded beginnings. He remained proud of his Argentine roots, with a love for maté and tango, even celebrating his 78th birthday by inviting hundreds to dance in St. Peter’s Square.

Pope Francis will be remembered not just as a religious leader, but as a moral voice for justice, compassion, and inclusion in a rapidly changing world.