by InTrieste
Pope Francis, the first pontiff from the Americas and a transformative figure who sought to shift the tone and direction of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday in Vatican City. He was 88.
The Vatican confirmed his death in a brief statement, saying that the Pope passed away at 5:34 a.m. in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, the residence within the Vatican Gardens where he had lived in recent months as his health declined.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, Pope Francis became the 266th pope of the Catholic Church in March 2013, succeeding Benedict XVI. His election, following the historic resignation of his predecessor, marked a break with centuries of European papal leadership and ushered in a decade of reform-minded yet often controversial papacy.
Throughout his tenure, Francis was lauded for his emphasis on mercy, humility, and care for the marginalized, including refugees, the poor, and the planet. He challenged the Church to confront issues of climate change, economic inequality, and sexual abuse with new urgency, often finding himself at odds with more conservative voices within the institution.
“He made the Church more human, more accessible,” said Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, a prominent Italian prelate and close ally of Francis. “He reminded us that God is found in compassion and in service, not in judgment.”
Francis’s health had been a concern in recent years. He underwent intestinal surgery in 2021 and suffered from persistent knee problems and respiratory issues. Despite this, he continued to travel widely and speak out on global issues until his condition sharply worsened earlier this year.
Born to Italian immigrants, Francis trained as a chemist before entering the seminary and joining the Jesuit order. His pastoral style as Archbishop of Buenos Aires—riding the bus, cooking his own meals—carried over into his papacy, where he famously chose to live in a modest guesthouse rather than the Apostolic Palace.
His death marks the end of an era defined by efforts to bring the Church closer to the people and to the modern world, often through bold symbolic gestures and uncompromising rhetoric on justice and human dignity.
As tributes poured in from around the globe, preparations began for a funeral that will be both deeply ceremonial and unprecedented. Unlike his predecessor Benedict XVI, who died as pope emeritus, Francis remained pontiff until his death—raising questions about the coming conclave and the future direction of a Church he spent more than a decade reshaping.
Details about the funeral arrangements and burial have not yet been announced.
