Pope Francis dies at 88 after decade of transformative leadership

By The Inspirer.

Vatican City — Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and South American to lead the Roman Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88 after a prolonged battle with respiratory illness.

His death was announced on Easter Monday at 7:35 a.m. by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who said in a statement that the pontiff had “returned to the house of the Father.”

Francis had been hospitalized several times in recent years due to recurring respiratory and kidney complications. He was last admitted on February 14, and by February 22, Vatican officials reported that he had been placed on a ventilator. Despite a brief public appearance on March 23 after 38 days in hospital, his health deteriorated rapidly. Just hours before his passing, he addressed Easter Mass attendees and met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

A Historic Papacy

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, Francis became Pope in March 2013, succeeding Benedict XVI. His election was historic—not only as the first pontiff from Latin America, but also as the first from the Jesuit order.

Known for his humility, progressive tone, and focus on the marginalized, Francis led the Church through a period of major reform. He championed climate action, addressed abuse scandals with a promise of accountability, and emphasized social justice over dogma.

In Africa, his papacy helped mend fractured ties with Rwanda, following the Catholic Church’s controversial role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. During a landmark meeting with President Paul Kagame in 2017, Francis publicly apologized for the Church’s “sins and failures,” asking forgiveness for members of the clergy who had “succumbed to hatred and violence.” Kagame praised the gesture as a “bold act of courage.”

Francis was ordained a priest in 1969 and rose steadily through Church ranks, becoming Provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina and later Archbishop of Buenos Aires. In 2001, he was made cardinal by Pope John Paul II. As cardinal, he was revered for his work with the poor and his simple lifestyle.

New Pope Within Weeks

The process to elect the next pope—known as a Conclave—is expected to begin within 15 to 20 days. Eligible cardinals under the age of 80 will convene in the Sistine Chapel, locked in until a two-thirds majority is reached.

Smoke signals will again guide the world: black for no decision, white for a new pope.

While the Vatican mourns a pontiff who reshaped the Church’s global image, the world now watches to see who will take up his mantle.