Two months after battling with a severe respiratory infection (bilateral pneumonia), the head of the Catholic pontiff, Pope Francis, passed on at the age of 88 years, yesterday. BRIDGET CHIEDU ONOCHIE and NGOZI EGENUKA recount his life and times.
The global Catholic community was, yesterday, thrown into mourning as the clock stopped ticking for Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church. He fought hard to live, but death overpowered him on Easter Monday, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa. The Vatican camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, announced the death.
The statement read: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7.35 a.m., the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.
“His entire life was dedicated to serving the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values of the gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
Pope Francis, formerly known as Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was first reported sick in January, leading to his admission to Gemelli Hospital, Rome, on February 14, where he was diagnosed with bronchitis, a severe respiratory infection, the crisis that threatened his 12-year papacy.
Two weeks after, rumours of his death filled the air following a respiratory crisis. He, however, stabilised afterwards and was discharged from the hospital on March 23, a five-week admission, and was expected to recuperate at his residence in the Vatican, with doctors advising at least two months of rest and recovery.
The 88-year-old Pope had a long history of health problems, including a lung removal surgery in his youth and previous attacks of bronchitis and pneumonia. He had also experienced falls in December 2024 and January 2025, respectively, resulting in minor injuries.
Although still frail since his discharge from the hospital, his death was shocking considering that he appeared at the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, in his wheelchair, to wish thousands of worshippers a happy Easter.
He was driven around the square as he blessed the congregation, pausing intermittently to bless babies brought over for him.
Pope Francis’ Easter Sunday appearance had been highly anticipated, believed to douse speculations about his health. But fate had a different plan for him as he was called to eternity.
He would be greatly remembered for his support for human rights and tenacious commitment to the reform of the Catholic Church. One of Francis’ most significant reforms was the inclusion of women as full members of Vatican dicasteries, which drew both commendation and criticism.
A vocal critic of unregulated capitalism and consumerism, the pope has also prioritised environmental advocacy and called for urgent action on climate change, linking environmental destruction to economic inequality.
His opposition to the death penalty and declaration of the action as “intrinsically evil”, reinforced the position of the Church towards its abolition.
A strong advocate for global peace and unity, Pope France until his demise, sustained calls for dialogue, and reconciliation across racial, religious, and class structures. These rare attributes no doubt, far outweighed some of the controversies that marked his tenure, especially his condoning stance toward LGBTQ – an acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer.
The Pope was controversial for calling for the acceptance and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people. He took further steps in denouncing laws that criminalised homosexuality across the world. This development was highly misunderstood by many and highly condemned by Christians and people of different faiths across the globe for being morally reprehensible. But he maintained that while the Church cannot officially bless same-sex unions, he will not deny support and blessing to individuals.
Yet, he would be remembered for his uprightness and truth. His leadership as the head of the Catholic Church was devoid of pretence, the hallmark of which was his public apology on behalf of the church for its role in the abuse of clergy and the mistreatment of Indigenous peoples.
In a 2000-word letter addressed to the “People of God”, the Pope in August 2018, broke his silence over decades of cover-up, undermining the consequential global onslaught against the Catholic Church, tendered unreserved apology over cases of sex abuse by ordained priests, describing such act as the scandal with sorrow and shame.
“With shame and repentance, we acknowledge as an ecclesial community that we were not where we should have been, that we did not act promptly, realising the magnitude and the gravity of the damage done to so many lives. We showed no care for the little ones; we abandoned them,” the letter read.
His public criticism of Catholic leaders for failure to protect children and sustained clamour for punishment against the aberration will distinguish Pope Francis from his predecessors for a long time to come.
In international diplomacy, Pope Francis was popular for championing key negotiations, including the restoration of diplomatic ties between the United States and Cuba. He also saw to the negotiating of a deal with China on the appointment of bishops and refugee rights.
His voice on increased immigration levels was audible, restoring a feeling of self-worth to humanity.
In October 2023, he convened a Synod on Synodality – an event ranked the most significant within the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council.
Beyond religious matters, Pope Francis was also vocal on global issues of inequalities, condemning wealthy nations for exploiting poorer countries of the world. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, he urged the wealthy nations to share vaccines with developing countries.
As the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, Francis’ tenure could be defined by progressive reforms, humanitarian advocacy, and bold diplomatic interventions, while he navigated internal challenges.
His birth and early life
JORGE Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, into a working-class family of Italian immigrants. His father was a railway worker, and his mother was a homemaker who succeeded in raising five children in modest circumstances.
Bergoglio’s early life in Argentina exposed him to poverty, political upheaval (including the Dirty War), and the struggles of the marginalised – experiences that were said to have shaped his worldview.
He was trained as a chemist before entering the Jesuit order in 1958. Ordained a Catholic Priest in 1969, he rose through the ranks, becoming the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and a Cardinal in 2001.
Despite his family background and the circumstances surrounding his early life, Bergoglio would be remembered for scoring several ‘firsts’ in his life’s journey. For instance, he was the first Jesuit Pope, the first Pope from the Americas, and the first non-European Pope in over 1,200 years. Yet, he was remarkable for his humility, peace-loving nature, and commitment to social reforms and justice. Americas, the Southern Hemisphere, and the first non-European pope since Gregory III in the 8th century.
His Papacy
BERGOGLIO’S Papacy began on March 13, 2013, at the age of 76, upon which he chose the name “Francis” after St. Francis of Assisi. Catholic tradition demands that a newly ordained Pope pick a name, and for many Catholics, his choice of name was a strong message about his desire to unite the Roman Catholic Church and cause it to focus more on the poor and creation.
Distinguished by exceptional acts of humility, Pope Francis opted for a simple lifestyle throughout his tenure. This manifested during his papacy celebration when he rejected most of the traditional pomp of the papacy and rather went for a simple white cassock. He also preferred the Vatican Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse against the Apostolic Palace. He chose modest vehicles over luxurious cars to demystify class segregation. Although plagued by health challenges, the Pope continued his active ministry until sickness and old age confined him to a cane or wheelchair.
His leadership activities
FRANCIS has redefined the papacy with a hands-on, pastoral approach. His activities emphasised mercy, inclusion and global outreach. One of his passions was a focus on the poor. He has consistently prioritised the marginalised, washing the feet of prisoners (including women and Muslims), visiting slums and inviting homeless people to the Vatican. His first trip as pope was to Lampedusa in 2013, where he decried the “globalisation of indifference” toward migrants.
On the church reform, the Pope seriously tackled the Vatican on corruption by notably reforming the scandal-plagued Vatican Bank even though his efforts have been complicated by trials, including that of Cardinal Angelo Becciu.
He also succeeded in decentralising church authority, empowering local bishops, and opening discussions on divisive issues, including divorce and remarriage through synods.
Through his Interfaith and Social Outreach programmes, Francis would be remembered for proactive nature and zeal to identify the oppressed, the victimised and stigmatised. This passion moved him to meeting with refugees, survivors of clergy abuse and transgender individuals. He carried with him the heavy message of inclusion, not daunted by scathing criticisms.
An advocate of peace, his 2021 visit to Iraq despite assassination risks, aimed to support Christians and promote peace in a war-torn region. Francis could be described as a tireless advocate for peace, influenced by both Jesuit and Franciscan ideals.
His love for peace has led to his continued condemnation of war, calling for ceasefires in Ukraine and Gaza, and urging negotiation over endless conflicts. His 2014 invitation to Israeli and Palestinian leaders for a peace prayer at the Vatican, his Mass at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2016, and his 2019 signing of the “Document on Human Fraternity” with Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb in Abu Dhabi, highlighted his commitment to dialogue and reconciliation. His position on peace was not just as an absence of war but as a product of justice and a world devoid of unbridled capitalism, inequality, and violence.
Controversies
SOME of Francis’s progressive tones sparked significant debates and criticisms among people around the world. One of the major decisions that almost marred the Catholic Church and nearly pitched it and its leadership against the rest of the world was his stance on LGBTQ+. His 2013 comment, “Who am I to judge?” and the 2023 approval of blessings for same-sex couples (though not their unions) were welcomed by those described as liberals. However, the enraged conservatives, who perceived the developments as a betrayal of doctrine, accused him of undermining tradition.
On the issue of divorce and communion, the Pope’s 2016 encyclical “Amoris Laetitia” suggested flexibility for divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Holy Communion. This again, prompted accusations of heresy from traditionalists.
But one thing that cannot be taken from the Pope was his love for humanity upon which most of his decisions and actions found their existence.
While he’s met survivors of clergy abuse scandals and vowed reform, critics argue he’s been slow to enact systemic change, pointing to his initial defence of accused bishops like Juan Barros in Chile (he later apologised).
Also, his critiques of capitalism, support for migrants, and calls for climate action have drawn ire from conservative Catholics, especially in the U.S., where he’s accused of aligning with liberal agendas. His suggestion that Ukraine negotiate with Russia in 2024 further stirred debate.
In 2024, reports of him using a homophobic slur in private meetings (which he apologised for) clashed with his inclusive image, highlighting occasional tensions between his off-the-cuff style and papal gravitas.
