The bells rang mournfully across Rome on Monday morning as the world learned of the passing of Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a towering spiritual figure of the modern era. He died at 7:35 a.m. (05:35 GMT) at the Domus Santa Marta residence in the Vatican, aged 88.
The announcement was delivered by Cardinal Kevin Farrell in a solemn video message from the chapel where Francis had chosen to live—eschewing the grandeur of the Apostolic Palace, in keeping with his lifelong commitment to simplicity and humility.
“Today, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father,” Farrell said, his voice heavy with emotion. “His life was a testimony of unwavering service to God and humanity.”
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, brought a different kind of energy to the Vatican from the moment he stepped onto the world stage in 2013. Clad in plain white robes, his first word to the global audience from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica was a simple, disarming “Buonasera” — Good evening. That quiet warmth would become his signature.
A Final Blessing
Despite a long-standing respiratory condition, and more recently, a prolonged bout of double pneumonia that had him hospitalized for over a month earlier this year, Francis made a surprise and poignant final appearance just a day before his death.
On Easter Sunday, thousands of Catholic faithful watched him wave from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica and deliver what would be his last blessing. He even rode briefly through the square in the popemobile — a moment that drew tears and applause from those who sensed this might be goodbye.
In an unexpected gesture beforehand, he met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in what is now believed to have been one of his final diplomatic engagements.
A Papacy That Broke Molds
Francis was not merely a religious leader — he was a disruptor of norms within a 2,000-year-old institution. He challenged capitalism, elevated climate change as a moral issue, and offered a welcoming embrace to communities long marginalized within the Church, including LGBTQ+ Catholics.
But his leadership wasn’t without criticism. Conservatives inside and outside the Vatican often bristled at his progressive tone and sweeping reforms. His handling of the clergy abuse scandal in Chile in 2018, where he initially defended a bishop accused of covering up abuse, marked a low point in his otherwise empathetic tenure. Though he later apologized and took corrective action, the damage was felt deeply.
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Still, Francis never shied away from difficult conversations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while the world stood still, he stood alone in a rain-soaked St. Peter’s Square, urging humanity to come together.
“We’re all in the same boat,” he said, his voice echoing off the empty marble. “Fragile. Disoriented. But invited to row together.”
Legacy of Compassion
In many ways, Pope Francis redefined what it meant to be a modern religious leader. He was as comfortable sitting with migrants and the homeless as he was addressing heads of state. He preached less with fire and brimstone, and more with gestures of humility: washing the feet of prisoners, embracing disfigured pilgrims, calling for mercy over judgment.
His papacy was also marked by an open-door policy for interfaith dialogue and a passionate commitment to the environment. His 2015 encyclical Laudato si’ called on the world to care for the Earth as a “common home,” resonating far beyond Catholic circles.
A World in Mourning
As the Vatican prepares for days of mourning and the world begins to reflect on his life, Francis leaves behind a legacy that is deeply human. Flawed, heartfelt, bold. He may have stirred controversy, but he also stirred souls.
His final moments were spent not in grand palaces, but in a modest residence, surrounded by those closest to him — a reflection of the life he chose and the example he gave.
Now, the chair of St. Peter is once again empty. But the spirit of the man who filled it — with love for the poor, courage in conviction, and a call for unity — will linger far beyond the Vatican walls.
May he rest in peace.
