Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a transformative figure in the modern history of the Roman Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88. The pope passed away peacefully on Easter Monday just a day after delivering his final public blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. According to the Vatican, the Pope’s death due to stroke and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse
Picture: Pope Francis, leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the first Latin American pontiff
Born in Buenos Aires in 1936 to an Italian immigrant family, the pope was night club bouncer before beginning his ministry as a priest in 1969. He rose through the ranks to become archbishop of Buenos Aires and was elevated to cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001. In 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict, he made history when he became the first Jesuit pope, the first from Latin America, and the first to choose the name Francis, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi.
Pope Francis’s papacy was defined by bold gestures of inclusion, passionate advocacy for the poor, and efforts to modernize aspects of Church practice and tone without altering doctrine. His tenure was also marked by controversy and criticism, particularly regarding his perceived leniency on issues such as same-sex blessings, interreligious dialogue, and his approach to the global clergy sex abuse crisis. Despite declining health and a series of hospitalizations in recent years, Pope Francis remained active in Church leadership until his final days.
As the Catholic world mourns, the Church now enters a solemn period known as the sede vacante—Latin for “the seat being vacant.” With the Chair of St. Peter now empty, attention turns to the College of Cardinals who will soon convene in a secret conclave within the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope. The election process is deeply rooted in tradition and protocol. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, and a two-thirds majority is required to elect the new pontiff. The process is conducted in strict secrecy, with the faithful and the world watching for the iconic white smoke to rise from the chapel chimney, signaling that a new leader has been chosen.
Picture: Sistine Chapel
Speculation is already mounting over who might succeed Pope Francis. Among the most talked-about contenders is Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Italian Secretary of State known for his diplomatic finesse, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, Cardinal Péter Erdő of Hungary, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Italy, Cardinal José Tolentino Mendonça of Portugal, Cardinal Mario Grech of Malta, Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea and DR Congo’s, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu.
Picture: Cardinal Pietro Parolin of Italy (left), Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana with Pope Francis (Center) and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Phiippines (Right)
The coming days will be filled with prayer, reflection, and solemn ceremony as the Church bids farewell to a historic papacy. With the eyes of 1.3 billion Catholics fixed on the Vatican, the conclave’s outcome will shape not only the future of the Roman Catholic Church but also its place in a changing world. In life, Pope Francis challenged the faithful to reach beyond walls and embrace the gospel with courage. In death, he leaves behind a Church at a crossroads, searching for a shepherd who will continue the journey or lead it in a new direction.