Pope Francis dies at 88 after transforming the Catholic Church with compassion and reform

Pope Francis, the first pontiff from the Americas, reshaped the Church through social justice advocacy and symbolic gestures while balancing tradition and reform.

Pope Francis arrives at St. Peter’s Square for the Wednesday General Audience on December 4, 2024, in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Pope Francis dies at 88, leaving behind a legacy defined by humility, compassion, and quiet revolution. Known as the “people’s Pope,” the Argentine pontiff became a symbol of a more inclusive and socially engaged Catholic Church. Throughout his papacy, he championed the poor, migrants, and victims of injustice, often taking bold stands on controversial issues while treading carefully around doctrinal change.

Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected in March 2013, becoming the 266th pope and the first ever from the Americas and the southern hemisphere. His passing marks the end of a historic era in the Vatican, shaped by simplicity, powerful symbolism, and a continuous push for reform from within.

A pope of the people

From the beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis set a markedly different tone. Rejecting the opulence associated with the position, he chose to live in the Vatican guesthouse rather than the Apostolic Palace. He wore plain white robes, made his own phone calls, and prioritized personal connection over ceremony.

Just days after his election, he declared, "How I would like a poor Church for the poor," setting the tone for his reign. Whether visiting slums, prisons, or war zones, Francis always sought out the marginalized. He washed the feet of inmates, embraced the sick, and spoke plainly about issues most religious leaders avoided.

A health-challenged yet tireless pontiff

Though known for his energy and charisma, Francis suffered from several health issues throughout his papacy. In 2021, he underwent colon surgery; by 2023, he required a wheelchair due to knee pain. He was hospitalized multiple times for bronchitis, and his final illness—a severe case of bronchitis in both lungs—kept him in care for over a month, sparking renewed speculation that he might follow his predecessor Benedict XVI in resigning.

However, Francis consistently downplayed the idea. In 2023, he said papal resignations should not become routine, and in a 2024 memoir, he called resignation only a “distant possibility,” citing the need for a grave physical impediment to justify such a step.

A symbolic reformer

While Pope Francis avoided major doctrinal overhauls, his papacy was rich in symbolic gestures that resonated globally. His first international trip was to Lampedusa, an Italian island overwhelmed by migrants. There, he decried the “globalisation of indifference,” signaling his commitment to human dignity.

He famously responded to a question about gay Catholics with, “Who am I to judge?”—a remark that immediately made headlines and symbolized a new tone from the Vatican. While he maintained the Church’s positions on marriage and abortion, he opened the door to same-sex blessings, allowed divorced and remarried Catholics to receive communion, and approved baptisms for transgender individuals.

Yet his balancing act faced criticism. Conservatives accused him of blurring doctrinal lines, while progressives argued he hadn’t gone far enough, particularly on women’s roles in the Church. Though he appointed women to high-ranking Vatican posts, he stopped short of endorsing female ordination.

Confronting abuse and seeking accountability

The global sex abuse crisis loomed over his papacy. While Francis made strides by meeting victims, enforcing reporting requirements, and reforming internal procedures, survivors’ groups argued he was too slow in delivering justice. He opened Vatican archives to civil courts and allowed for the prosecution of cardinals, but critics say the Church under his leadership still hesitated to fully cooperate with external investigations or hand over abusers to law enforcement.

Nonetheless, his commitment to addressing the scandal marked a shift from past secrecy, bringing the issue further into public and institutional awareness.

A voice on climate and peace

Francis made global headlines for his strong stances on climate change. His 2015 encyclical Laudato Si helped shape the Paris climate agreement and laid moral responsibility on developed nations. He warned of irreversible damage and stressed the spiritual duty to protect “our common home.”

On the global stage, Francis also promoted peace, often acting as a mediator. He played a role in the U.S.-Cuba thaw and supported Colombia’s peace process. He sought reconciliation between religious groups, meeting Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in a historic encounter and co-authoring a statement on religious freedom with Sunni cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb.

But his peace advocacy occasionally caused friction. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Francis called for dialogue, even praising those willing to “raise the white flag.” This drew ire from Kyiv, which saw it as undermining resistance to aggression.

A life rooted in faith and humility

Born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, to Italian immigrant parents, Bergoglio was the eldest of five children. He worked in a hosiery factory as a teenager while studying chemistry. A youthful flirtation with a woman nearly led to a marriage proposal before he embraced religious life at 17.

Ordained a priest in 1969, he rose through the Jesuit ranks to become provincial head in Argentina. His leadership during the country’s dictatorship sparked controversy, with some accusing him of failing to protect radical clergy. Though no definitive evidence supported these claims, the period remained contentious.

After a period of exile within the Church, Bergoglio re-emerged as a champion of the poor, earning the nickname “Bishop of the Slums.” This reputation helped propel him to the papacy following Benedict XVI’s resignation.

A complicated legacy

As the first pope to lead a funeral for a predecessor in modern history, Francis recognized the need for institutional evolution. His governance modernized aspects of Vatican operations, including the financial system, and emphasized transparency and accountability.

Yet his reforms often fell short of the most transformative expectations. The Catholic Church under Francis remained doctrinally conservative in many areas, even as his gestures of inclusion drew widespread praise.

His papacy was defined not by sweeping structural change, but by tone and symbolism—by making the Church feel more human, more reachable, and more empathetic.

Remembered beyond dogma

Pope Francis dies at 88, remembered for his emphasis on mercy over judgment and connection over hierarchy. Whether speaking with young people about the pitfalls of social media or quietly writing letters to Saint Joseph to manage stress, he brought a human touch to an ancient institution.

A lover of tango and classical music, he once slipped into a Roman record store to browse vinyl. He was a pope who carried the burdens of the Church with a smile, who sought to make Catholicism more accessible while navigating the minefield of tradition.

His death closes a chapter in Vatican history that will be studied for its efforts at reconciliation, reform, and renewal. In his own words from 2017: “From the moment I was elected, I had a very particular feeling of profound peace. And that has never left me.”