The Tragic Passing of Pope Francis 

Anatta Blue Chankhunthod

April 25, 2025

On April 21st, 2025, Pope Francis tragically passed away at the ripe old age of 88. Pope Francis was born on December 17th, 1936, as Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was the first Latin American pope. Alongside being the first Latin American pope, Pope Francis was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas and Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope born and raised outside of Europe since the 8th-century Pope Gregory III. 

Pope Francis is remembered for his humility and care for the marginalized. While not coming from poverty, Pope Francis grew up in a humble middle-class family in Argentina, meaning that he witnessed people's struggles firsthand. From this upbringing, Pope Francis was often called the pope for the poor and the pope of the people, having constantly put the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable population first through his pontificate. 

Furthermore, Pope Francis was seen as a symbol of change, advocating for social justice issues across the globe. For example, his stance on LGBTQ+ was viewed as progressive by the masses, as he began a shift toward inclusion and acceptance. While still acknowledging the traditional teachings of the Roman Catholic Church framing sexual acts outside of marriage as sinful, he had simultaneously called for the decriminalization of homosexuality, emphasizing that all people regardless of gender, race, and sexuality, are children of God and must be treated with dignity and honor. In addition to his advocacy for the recognition of the LGBTQ+ community, Pope Francis took massive strides in increasing women’s role in the Church, such as expanding their participation in governance and leadership within the Vatican. 

Loved by the people of the Vatican City, Pope Francis was different from his predecessors. Alongside being progressive regarding social justice issues, Pope Francis lived humbly, choosing to live in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guest house rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by previous popes. It was through this humility that the people came to love Pope Francis, emphasizing that everyone under God’s light is equal.

Following his passing, numerous possible candidates for his successor have been named, such as Pierto Parolin, Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, and Peter Erdo, among many others. This process promises to be highly uncertain, as many factors play into this selection. To select the new pope, the College of Cardinals will meet in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel to debate and vote on the next pope until only one candidate remains. A new pope is slated to be elected fifteen to twenty days after Pope Francis’s tragic passing, meaning a new pope will be elected around the first half of May.

With the death of Pope Francis earlier this week, the Catholic Church has entered a mourning period. This period includes nine days of consecutive masses offered for the repose of his soul, which is known as “Novendiales.” In the days before the funeral, the late Pope Francis’s body is placed in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful can pay their respects. After the religious ceremonies and funeral, Pope Francis by his wishes will be buried not in the Vatican grottoes but in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, which he visited more than a hundred times during his papacy. 

Pope Francis will be missed dearly, regardless of faith.