Remembering Pope Francis: A Pope for the People Passes Away

It is with sadness that people around the world learned that Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, passed away today, Monday, April 21, 2025. He was 88 years old. Pope Francis was known for his warm smile, his simple way of living, and his focus on helping those in need.

From Argentina to the Vatican

Pope Francis wasn’t always called Francis. He was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, way back in 1936. This made him special right from the start of his papacy – he was the first Pope ever to come from the Americas and the first from the Southern Hemisphere. He was also the first Pope from the Jesuit religious order.

Before becoming Pope, he served as a priest and later as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, known for his dedication to the poor in his home country.

In 2013, the previous Pope, Benedict XVI, decided to step down, which is very unusual. Cardinals from all over the world gathered in Vatican City (a tiny country inside Rome, Italy) to choose a new Pope. They chose Cardinal Bergoglio. When asked what name he would take as Pope, he chose “Francis” in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis is famous for his love for the poor, for peace, and for nature, and Pope Francis wanted his time as Pope to reflect those same values.

A Papacy of Humility and Mercy

Pope Francis quickly became known as “the people’s Pope.” Instead of living in the grand Apostolic Palace where Popes usually live, he chose to live in a simpler guesthouse called Casa Santa Marta. He often spoke about the importance of mercy, forgiveness, and looking out for people who felt left out or forgotten – people he called living on the “peripheries” of society.

He cared deeply about the environment, writing an important letter called Laudato Si’ about the need to protect our planet, our “common home.” He traveled the world, meeting not only with world leaders but also making time for refugees, prisoners, and the sick.

One of his famous phrases came when he was asked about gay people. He responded, “Who am I to judge?” This simple question showed his desire for the Church to be more welcoming and less judgmental. While he didn’t change the Church’s core teachings, his approach felt different to many – more focused on compassion.

Final Days

In recent years, Pope Francis faced several health challenges. He had knee problems that often required him to use a wheelchair, and he had surgeries on his abdomen. Earlier this year, in February and March 2025, he was hospitalized for nearly six weeks with a serious respiratory infection that turned into pneumonia in both lungs.

Even though he was recovering, he made a public appearance just yesterday, on Easter Sunday, greeting thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Sadly, his health took a turn, and the Vatican announced that he passed away this morning, April 21, 2025, at his home, the Casa Santa Marta. They reported that the cause of death was a stroke which led to heart failure.

His Legacy

Pope Francis led the Catholic Church for over 12 years. He will be remembered as a Pope who tried to live simply, who championed the poor and the marginalized, who urged care for the environment, and who encouraged dialogue and mercy. His passing marks the end of a significant chapter for Catholics and for many people around the world who were inspired by his message of hope and compassion. He will be greatly missed.

This article’s content is based on the following sources:

Associated Press (AP News)

• Article: “Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff who ministered with a charming, humble style, dies at 88”
  • URL: https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a
• Article: “‘Who am I to judge?’ Pope Francis had an informal, lighthearted speaking style”
  • URL: https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-quotes-f202f17ec8db46e2b0222ce8c07b1abf
• Topic Hub: General Pope Francis news updates
  • URL: https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis

CBS News

• Live Updates: “Live updates on Pope Francis’ death as Catholic Church prepares for next chapter”
  • URL: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/pope-francis-dies-age-88-reaction/
• Article: “Pope Francis, groundbreaking leader of Catholic Church, dies at age 88”
  • URL: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pope-francis-dies-age-88-catholic-church/
• Article Snippet: Reporting on cause of death (stroke and heart failure)
  • URL: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pope-francis-death-health-challenges/#:~:text=Pope%20Francis'%20death%20Monday%20at,and%20subsequent%20irreversible%20heart%20failure.

NBC News / NBC Bay Area

• Live Updates: “Live updates: Pope Francis’ cause of death revealed by Vatican”
  • URL: https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/live-updates-pope-francis-dies-at-88/3849038/
• YouTube Mention (NBC News): “SPECIAL REPORT: Pope Francis dies at 88”

Vatican News

• Article: “Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday aged 88”
  • URL: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-04/pope-francis-dies-on-easter-monday-aged-88.html
• Topic Hub: Listing recent articles including details on cause of death and his testament.
  • URL: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope.html

Al Jazeera

• Article: “Pope Francis dies, leading to search for new leader of Catholic Church”
  • URL: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/21/pope-francis-dead-at-88-vatican-reports

Fox News

• Live Updates: “Pope Francis dead at 88 years old”
  • URL: https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/pope-francis-dead-at-88-vatican-camerlengo-says

National Catholic Register

• Article: “Pope Francis Dies at 88, Leaving Legacy of Reform and Focus on Church’s Peripheries”
  • URL: https://www.ncregister.com/news/pope-francis-dies-at-88-leaving-legacy-of-reform-and-focus-on-church-s-peripheries

Crisis Magazine

• Opinion Piece: “The Pope is Dead. Long Live the Papacy.”
  • URL: https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/the-pope-is-dead-long-live-the-papacy

Background Information

1. What Exactly is the Pope?

• Think of the Pope as the main leader of the Catholic Church all around the world. Catholics believe he is the successor to Saint Peter, who was one of Jesus Christ’s first apostles and considered the first leader of the Church.
• His official title is Bishop of Rome, and he lives in a special, tiny country called Vatican City, which is actually located inside the city of Rome, Italy.
• The Pope’s job is to be the main teacher and spiritual guide for over a billion Catholics worldwide. He helps interpret religious teachings, appoints other leaders like bishops, and guides the direction of the Church. He’s also the head of state for Vatican City, meaning he acts like a president or king for that small nation.

2. What is the Catholic Church?

• It’s the largest single branch (or denomination) of Christianity in the world. Christianity is the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
• The Catholic Church has a very long history, going back about 2,000 years to the time of Jesus and his apostles.
• It has a structure, kind of like a pyramid: The Pope is at the top, followed by Cardinals, then Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, who all serve the wider community of Catholic people (sometimes called the laity).

3. What is Vatican City?

• It’s the smallest independent country in the world! It covers only about 121 acres (which is smaller than many city parks) and is completely surrounded by Rome, Italy.
• It serves as the central headquarters for the entire Catholic Church.
• Famous buildings there include St. Peter’s Basilica (a huge, important church) and the Vatican Museums (which include the Sistine Chapel). This is where the Pope lives and works.

4. How is a New Pope Chosen? (The Conclave)

• Now that Pope Francis has passed away, a special process begins to choose the next Pope.
• Leaders in the Church called Cardinals, who are under 80 years old, will travel to Vatican City from all over the world.
• They will gather in secret inside the Sistine Chapel (famous for its Michelangelo paintings). This secret meeting is called a conclave.
• The Cardinals vote multiple times until one candidate gets at least two-thirds of the votes.
• People outside watch the chimney of the Sistine Chapel: Black smoke means no Pope has been chosen yet in that vote. White smoke means a new Pope has been elected!

5. Who are the Cardinals?

• Cardinals are high-ranking leaders in the Catholic Church, usually chosen by the Pope. Many are bishops in charge of large areas called dioceses, while others work in the Vatican administration.
• Their most important job is electing a new Pope when the previous one dies or resigns.
• You can often recognize them by their red hats and robes. The color red is symbolic, representing their readiness to even die for their faith. Pope Francis appointed many Cardinals from parts of the world that hadn’t had Cardinals before.

6. What Does “Papacy” Mean?

• This word has two main meanings:
  • It refers to the job or office of the Pope.
  • It also refers to the period of time a specific Pope is in charge (for example, “the papacy of Pope Francis” lasted from 2013 to 2025).

7. What Happens Right After a Pope Dies?

• The time between one Pope’s death and the election of the next is called the sede vacante (a Latin phrase meaning “the seat being vacant”).
• During this time, plans are made for the Pope’s funeral, which is usually a very large event attended by world leaders and pilgrims.
• The Church enters a period of mourning.
• The Cardinals start preparing for the conclave to elect the successor, the person who will follow Pope Francis as the next leader of the Catholic Church.