Pope Francis — A Faithful Shepherd Remembered

Pope Francis embraces Vinicio Riva | Credit: Vatican Media

As bells tolled across St. Peter’s Square and mourners gathered in every corner of the globe, the Catholic Church bid farewell to Pope Francis, a man who lived simply, prayed deeply, and served humbly. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and elected the 266th successor of St. Peter, Pope Francis spent his life not reforming Church doctrine, but reawakening its soul—calling us back to the Gospel’s core message of mercy, humility, and love.

On the morning of April 26, 2025, Pope Francis passed away peacefully at the age of 88 in his residence at the Domus Sanctae Marthae within Vatican City, where he had lived throughout his pontificate. After several weeks of declining health due to complications related to respiratory and cardiac fatigue, his death came quietly, surrounded by the prayers of those close to him. True to his lifelong preference for simplicity and discretion, there were no extraordinary displays—only the serene end of a man who had lived humbly and served faithfully until his final breath.

Raised in a modest neighborhood by Italian immigrant parents, young Jorge felt a vocation early in life. His path to the priesthood included studies in chemistry and a near-death experience that cost him part of a lung—a hardship that deepened his sense of dependence on God.

Pope Francis, then Jorge Bergoglio, back row center in a family photograph. Photograph: AP

He entered the Society of Jesus, drawn to its discipline and emphasis on missionary work. As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he chose the subway over limousines, shunned clerical privilege, and made the streets his sanctuary. His time among the poor, the suffering, and the forgotten shaped not just his ministry—but his papacy.

When he ascended to the papacy in 2013, Pope Francis made headlines for his humility: refusing the apostolic palace, choosing simple vestments, and taking the name Francis in honor of the saint who embraced poverty and peace. But beneath the symbolism lay something richer—a man deeply rooted in Catholic tradition, who sought to apply that tradition with mercy rather than legalism.

Contrary to media portrayals, Pope Francis did not seek to liberalize Church doctrine. He affirmed long-standing teachings on marriage, sexuality, and the sanctity of life. What distinguished him was his pastoral tone—he welcomed those who felt excluded and extended God’s mercy without compromising truth.

Pope Francis’s papacy was shaped by one word: mercy. His famous response—“Who am I to judge?”—was not a doctrinal shift but a pastoral reminder that the Church must accompany, not abandon, those on difficult journeys.

He embraced prisoners, the disabled, the elderly, and refugees—not to signal political allegiance but to remind the world of the Church’s fundamental mission: to serve Christ in the suffering. His work echoed the Gospels, not the slogans of any ideology.

As Bishop of Rome, Francis retained a global heart. He called Catholics to live simply, care for creation, and love with sincerity. He worked tirelessly to address internal corruption, clerical abuse, and bureaucratic stagnation—not to redefine the Church, but to purify it.

The casket of Pope Francis is sealed at St. Peter's Basilica, ahead of his funeral at the Vatican, on April 25, 2025. Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media/Reuters

He remained until his final breath a man of the Church—faithful to the Catechism, reverent in the liturgy, and devoted to the Eucharist. His reforms were not doctrinal, but spiritual: he reminded Catholics that orthodoxy and charity are not in conflict.

Pope Francis's legacy is not that he changed Catholicism, but that he embodied it more fully. He challenged Catholics to live their faith more deeply, love more generously, and forgive more freely.

His death leaves a deep void, but his witness leaves an even deeper imprint.