Pope Francis, the first pontiff from Latin America, has died at age 88.
The Argentinian-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio did things no Pope had done before, such as welcoming the LGBTQ+ community to the Catholic Church and stressing humility and empathy. Francis was one of the most progressive Popes the Catholic Church has seen, especially with his criticism of traditionalists.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and his Church,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell said from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, AP News reported.
Pope Francis suffered from a chronic lung disease and had part of his lung removed when he was younger. On Feb. 14, 2025, Francis was admitted to Gemelli Hospital, where he stayed for 38 days for a respiratory crisis that turned into double pneumonia.
Pope Francis blessed thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, the day before he died. Beforehand, he also met U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
Francis made headlines with controversies as Pope. In 2018, he defended Bishop Juan Barros, who had been accused of covering up Rev. Fernando Karadima’s sex crimes in Chile. Many of Karadima’s victims reported to church authorities since 2002 that he would kiss and fondle them in the swank Santiago parish he ran, but officials refused to believe them. In 2010, when the victims went public with their accusations, the Vatican launched an investigation that removed Karadima from ministry.
In 2020, Francis had to lead the Vatican during a global pandemic, “We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented,” Francis told an empty St. Peter’s Square in March 2020, AP News reported.
Francis’ death initiates a weeks-long process during which the faithful are allowed to pay their final respects. Vatican officials will first pay their respects in the Santa Marta chapel, which will then be opened to the general public in St. Peter’s Basilica for a funeral and the convening of a conclave to elect a new pope.
