On April 21, 2025, the world lost Pope Francis, a man whose 12-year papacy transformed the Catholic Church and touched hearts far beyond its 1.4 billion faithful. Known as the "People's Pope," Francis, who died at 88, was mourned not only by Catholics but by people of all faiths and none, from world leaders to ordinary individuals across the globe. His legacy of compassion, inclusivity, and outreach to the "peripheries" set a model for Catholics and the world, inspiring a Church that grew in vibrancy, particularly among youth, under his leadership.
A Pope for All People
From the moment he stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first Latin American and Jesuit pope, signaled a new era. Choosing the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, he vowed to lead a "poor Church for the poor." His humility—seen in gestures like paying his own hotel bill, driving modest cars, and shunning Vatican pomp—earned him the title "People’s Pope." As one mourner in Rome, Maria Silvia Tarsia, said, “He was not only a pope for the religious people, but also for the nonbelievers and for the poor.”
Francis’s death prompted an outpouring of grief worldwide. Church bells tolled in Vatican City, Manila, and Paris, while flags flew at half-staff in countries like Brazil, Argentina, and the United States. Non-Catholics, including political leaders like Israel’s President Isaac Herzog and Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church, hailed his compassion and interfaith dialogue. Even Apple CEO Tim Cook and Formula 1 Racing joined the tributes, reflecting Francis’s universal appeal.
Reaching the Peripheries
Francis redefined the Church’s mission by focusing on the "peripheries"—those marginalized by society, geography, or circumstance. He called the Church a “field hospital” for the wounded, urging it to heal rather than judge. His outreach to migrants, the poor, and LGBTQ+ individuals was groundbreaking. In 2013, he famously asked, “If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge?”—a stark departure from prior Church rhetoric. He approved blessings for same-sex couples in 2023, signaling tolerance that drew both praise and criticism.
His advocacy extended to global issues. Francis condemned unbridled capitalism, championed climate action, and pleaded for peace in conflicts like Ukraine and Gaza. In his final Easter speech on April 20, 2025, read by an aide due to his frail health, he decried “contempt… towards the vulnerable, the marginalized and migrants.” These words resonated with people like Elijah Smith, a 22-year-old convert from North Carolina, who credited Francis’s social justice teachings for drawing him to Catholicism.
Francis also shifted the Church’s center of gravity. As the first non-European pope in 1,300 years, he appointed cardinals from Africa, Asia, and other underrepresented regions, recognizing their demographic importance. Vatican statistics show Africa and Asia saw significant increases in new priests, reflecting the Church’s growth in these areas. His visits to conflict zones, like the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2023, endeared him to local Catholics, with mourners like Sifa Albertina noting, “Pope Francis was a pope who loved our country.”
A Model for Catholics and the World
Francis’s leadership style—rooted in humility, service, and synodality (a listening Church)—set a powerful example. He organized global synods on family, youth, and the Amazon, inviting laypeople, including women, into decision-making processes. This inclusivity inspired Catholics like Dylan Corbett, who worked on Francis’s migration initiatives, noting, “He brought leadership that we hadn’t seen in centuries.”
His emphasis on “encountering real people” before doctrine became a blueprint for clergy and missionaries. Fr. John Bartunek highlighted how Francis modeled this for young priests, saying, “To spread the good news of the Gospel, we start with encountering real people.” His actions, like dining with Rome’s poorest or meeting with abuse survivors, showed a Church that prioritized the vulnerable.
Growth and Youth Engagement
Under Francis, the Catholic Church saw revitalization, particularly among youth. While Church attendance declined in some regions due to secularism, Francis’s focus on inclusivity and social issues energized younger Catholics. A 2024 Pew Research Center survey found 75% of U.S. Catholics viewed him favorably, with many seeing him as an agent of change. Events like the Jubilee for Teenagers in Rome, originally a celebration, became a mass youth gathering mourning Francis, with 18-year-old Anna Lamberti saying, “He made us feel heard and loved.”
Vatican data also shows a leveling off of membership declines in the U.S., with an estimated 53 million adult Catholics, and explosive growth in Africa. Francis’s informal style and focus on issues like climate and justice resonated with younger generations, drawing converts like Smith and inspiring vocations in developing nations.
A Complicated but Enduring Legacy
Francis was not without critics. Conservatives, particularly in the U.S., opposed his progressive stance on issues like the Latin Mass and sexual ethics, with figures like Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke calling his leadership divisive. Some, like Sarah Pearson of SNAP, felt he fell short on addressing clergy abuse fully. Yet, even critics acknowledged his impact. Argentine President Javier Milei, once a vocal detractor, called knowing Francis “a true honor.”
As mourners lined up for days to see Francis’s simple wooden coffin in St. Peter’s Basilica, and 500,000 attended his funeral on April 26, 2025, the depth of his influence was clear. From Manila to Rio, Catholics and non-Catholics alike grieved a man who lived the Gospel’s call to love. His vision of a Church that embraces “everyone, everyone, everyone” leaves a roadmap for his successor and a challenge for the world: to care for the peripheries, lead with humility, and inspire hope in a divided age.
Rest in peace, Pope Francis—your light endures.
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