Grief in Vatican as pilgrims honor Pope Francis’s legacy of peace

Pope Francis dies at 88 as faithful mourn in silence at St Peter’s Square.

Pilgrims gather at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on April 21, 2025, mourning the death of Pope Francis. Photo by Domenico Cippitelli/Nur

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Vatican City — A solemn silence descended upon St Peter’s Square on Monday as the Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis died at the age of 88. The news of his passing prompted an outpouring of grief among the faithful, pilgrims, and tourists who gathered at the heart of Catholicism to pay their respects.

The death of Pope Francis, who had led the Catholic Church since 2013, marks the end of an era defined by reform, humility, and a renewed focus on compassion. Known for his accessibility and global outreach, Francis had been battling double pneumonia for over a month, undergoing 38 days of treatment at Gemelli hospital in Rome before being discharged on March 23. Just a day before his death, he had made a surprise appearance on Easter Sunday, waving to the crowd from the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica.

A moment of prayer and reflection in the heart of the Vatican

On Monday, St Peter’s Square, normally bustling with activity, was transformed into a place of quiet mourning. Groups of Catholic priests and nuns, many clutching rosaries, gathered in small circles to pray. Their faces reflected the weight of the moment, as did those of the many tourists and worshippers who had witnessed Pope Francis's final public blessing only 24 hours earlier.

“He was the voice of the smallest, the weakest. And up until yesterday he was asking for peace in the world,” said Riccardo Vielma, a 31-year-old seminarian from Venezuela.

Though the square remained adorned with Easter tulips and rows of chairs from Sunday’s mass, the joy of resurrection had given way to sorrow. Pilgrims stood quietly in clusters, many with hands clasped in prayer or wiping away tears. Some simply stared at the basilica, lost in thought.

From celebration to mourning: a sudden farewell

Royben Noris, another visitor from Venezuela, shared the disbelief felt by many. “We’re really all stunned because yesterday he was here, he did a full tour of the square,” he said. “It was such a great joy for everyone to see him again.”

That joy, however, quickly turned into mourning as news spread of the death of Pope Francis. Within hours, camera crews began assembling around the perimeter of the square, a signal that the Vatican was preparing for the extensive media attention and ceremonial traditions that follow the passing of a pope.

The Church will now begin the centuries-old process of selecting a new leader, starting with the calling of a conclave of cardinals. In the interim, Vatican operations will be overseen by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, responsible for administering the Church until a new pontiff is chosen.

A pope of the people remembered with love

“He was the same as everyone else,” said Irish tourist Naoimh Kelly, 44, who came to St Peter’s Square with her son after hearing of Pope Francis’s death. “He wasn’t fancy. He was always about the people. He was a real humanitarian.”

Kelly, like many others, believed that Pope Francis changed perceptions about the Catholic Church, especially among communities that had grown distant due to past scandals. “I’m from Ireland and the Church has a bad name. But he changed the way people thought,” she said. “It’s a shame.”

For local Romans too, the passing of Pope Francis felt personal. Nunzia, a 63-year-old Italian woman, had frequently attended the pope’s Sunday Angelus prayer. “People really loved him. Catholics and non-Catholics alike,” she told AFP. “Mamma mia, it’s really hit me. The only thing I could do was come by here for a moment of reflection.”

The final days of Pope Francis

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, became the first Jesuit and first Latin American pope. His papacy stood in contrast to that of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who stepped down in 2013 due to declining health—the first pope to resign in six centuries.

Despite his own health issues, Francis continued to fulfill papal duties with determination. He had part of a lung removed in his youth and suffered various ailments in recent years, including respiratory infections, hernia surgery, colon surgery, and chronic knee pain that often required the use of a wheelchair. Nonetheless, he maintained a rigorous schedule and frequently appeared in public, including a high-profile Asia-Pacific tour just last September.

In the days leading up to his hospital admission in February, Francis appeared visibly fatigued, delegating parts of his homilies to aides and limiting his mobility. Despite medical advice for rest following his release, the pope insisted on resuming public appearances.

A legacy of compassion, reform, and humility

Pope Francis will be remembered for his unwavering focus on social justice, care for the environment, and a more inclusive approach to Catholicism. His papacy was marked by efforts to address the Church’s handling of sexual abuse cases and to implement administrative reforms, including financial transparency and expanded roles for laypeople within the Vatican.

He often clashed with conservative elements in the Church who criticized his openness and doctrinal flexibility, particularly on sensitive issues like homosexuality, abortion, and divorce. Yet his most famous words—“Who am I to judge?”—captured the essence of his approach: one rooted in empathy rather than condemnation.

Even in death, Pope Francis defied tradition. He will not be buried in the Vatican, but rather at Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore basilica. Unlike his predecessors who were interred in three coffins, he requested only a simple wooden and zinc casket, emphasizing his desire to remain a “humble pastor.”

The road ahead for the Church

As the Catholic Church enters a period of mourning, its focus will soon shift toward the selection of a new pope. The conclave, a sacred and secretive gathering of cardinals, will likely convene in the coming weeks. Until then, the faithful across the world will continue to reflect on the transformative legacy left behind by Pope Francis.

His death leaves unresolved several initiatives, including the global Synod on Synodality, a major Church consultation effort aimed at fostering dialogue about the Church’s future. The final stages of that process will now unfold without the pope who initiated it.

Still, the enduring image of Pope Francis—smiling from his popemobile, blessing children, visiting the poor, and urging peace from the Vatican balcony—remains etched in the hearts of millions. As mourning deepens in Rome and beyond, the legacy of this unconventional, compassionate pontiff lives on.