Pope Francis, the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church and the first Latin American and Jesuit pope, passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he served as pope for just over 12 years, beginning his papacy on March 13, 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Known for his progressive stances and advocacy, Pope Francis addressed pressing global issues including migration, climate change, economic inequality, and LGBTQ+ rights. He also called for the abolition of the death penalty and condemned the treatment of Indigenous students in Canadian residential schools, labeling it as genocide.
Despite longstanding health issues and a hospitalization earlier in 2025 for pneumonia and kidney failure, he continued his duties, delivering his final Easter blessing from St. Peter’s Basilica on April 20. His death occurred the next morning at his Vatican residence, the Casa Santa Marta.
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