By Newspot Nigeria Editorial Team
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope whose papacy reshaped the modern Catholic Church with a message of humility, inclusion, and radical reform, died on Monday morning at the age of 88.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican’s camerlengo, announced the pope’s passing from the chapel of Domus Santa Marta, his residence since 2013. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father,” Farrell said solemnly, as church bells tolled across Rome in mourning.
The Argentine-born pontiff, whose birth name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, had long battled respiratory illness and was recently hospitalized for double pneumonia, spending 38 days in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital before a short-lived Easter reappearance on Sunday. In a poignant farewell to the faithful, Francis had surprised worshippers with a final ride through St. Peter’s Square, drawing cheers just one day before his passing.
A Papacy of Firsts and Friction
Elected in 2013 following the historic resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Francis became the first Jesuit pope and the first to adopt the name of St. Francis of Assisi. From his inaugural “Buonasera” to the faithful, he signaled a papacy rooted in simplicity and a “church for the poor.”
Francis endeared himself to many with his compassion for migrants, marginalized groups, and his calls for climate action and economic justice. However, his views often drew backlash from conservative Catholics who accused him of watering down traditional teachings. His famous “Who am I to judge?” response to a question about gay priests set the tone for a more inclusive church — one that traditionalists felt strayed too far from doctrine.
While he upheld the church’s positions against abortion and female ordination, he allowed women to vote in synods, opened pastoral conversations on same-sex relationships, and encouraged a shift from condemnation to accompaniment.
A Reform-Minded Leader Amid Scandal and Skepticism
Francis’ papacy was not without controversy. He stumbled in addressing the sexual abuse crisis, notably defending a Chilean bishop accused of shielding a predator priest, only to later reverse course and issue a public apology. He defrocked high-profile clerics like ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and implemented new protocols to hold bishops accountable.
On governance, Francis sought to clean up the Vatican’s murky finances and pushed through reforms to modernize the Curia. His landmark agreements with China and historic visits to Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula signaled a Vatican more willing to engage diplomatically even in complex geopolitical terrain.
Relations With the U.S. and Final Days
Just days before his death, Pope Francis met briefly with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Easter Sunday. The two had previously clashed over the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation plans. In their final encounter, the pontiff gave Vance chocolate eggs for his children, symbolizing Francis’ enduring personal warmth even amid ideological tensions.
In his final years, Francis faced declining health and intensified conservative pushback. Yet, he remained focused on what he believed was his divine mandate: to build a church of mercy, justice, and openness.
A Legacy That Will Be Debated for Decades
Loved and criticized in equal measure, Pope Francis changed the conversation around what it means to be a modern Catholic. He championed the rights of the poor, brought global attention to climate change and inequality, and reoriented the church’s tone from rigid dogma to compassionate outreach.
As tributes pour in from across the world — from religious leaders, heads of state, and everyday people — Francis’ papacy will be remembered as one that challenged, inspired, and transformed.
Newspot Nigeria will continue to follow developments from the Vatican as preparations begin for the conclave to elect Francis’ successor.
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