When the sad news of his death broke on Easter Monday, sending waves of disbelief and grief through the hearts of many, the world seemed to stop or pause. Flags were hoisted at half-mast. Vatican City, where Pope Francis had lived and worked for 12 momentous years, fell into a stunned, eerie silence. 
 
Pope Francis, perceived as a global moral and spiritual leader, died of a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure on April 21, 2025, at 6:45 a.m. local time in the Apostolic Palace, at the age of 88.
 
In Rome, the bells tolled somberly as thousands of mournful pilgrims gathered at St. Peter’s Square, standing in silent reflection amid flickering candles. From Rome to Washington, London to Madrid, Manila to Berlin, and Ottawa to Paris, the legacy of Pope Francis reverberated across the globe. 
 
In Africa—a continent he visited often and held close to his heart—the reaction was deeply personal and emotional. He had visited Kenya, Uganda, the Central African Republic, Egypt, Morocco, Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, and others, each trip marked by exuberant apostolic energy.
 
For many Africans, Pope Francis personified hope for the hopeless, freedom, and peace. He always had Africa on his mind. Known as the Pope of immigrants, he defended the dignity of refugees—Africans crying for milk and bread at Europe’s doors—reminding the world that we are one human family. Pained by the unending war and bloodshed in South Sudan, Pope Francis organised a 2019 retreat at the Vatican for South Sudanese leaders and opposition groups—a two-day initiative described by Cardinal Parolin as “spiritual, ecumenical, and diplomatic.”
 
Pope Francis was a Pope of hope. He had declared 2025 a Jubilee Year with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” officially titled Spes Non Confundit (Hope Does Not Disappoint).
 
Perhaps most of all, Pope Francis will be remembered as the Pope of mercy. He taught the world to embrace God’s mercy and to be merciful toward others. He consistently reached out to the marginalised—refugees, the poor, prisoners, the disabled, and the socially excluded. He emphasised that the Church must serve those on the periphery rather than the powerful, seeing this as an act of mercy. His message of mercy, love, forgiveness, and compassion for sinners highlighted humility, recognising one’s sinfulness, and the need for God’s grace.
 
Following in the footsteps of his predecessors, Pope Francis remained doggedly committed throughout his papacy to the promotion of international peace. He consistently advocated the abolition of nuclear weapons, describing their existence as an “immoral” threat to humanity. He urged world leaders to invest in peace rather than in arms, warning against the destructive power of modern weaponry. Pope Francis was also a vocal critic of the global arms trade, which he believed fuels conflicts around the world.
 
He consistently spoke out for peace in the Middle East, emphasising that the spilling of human blood in Gaza is a stain on our shared humanity. He called for a two-state solution, affirming the rights of both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples to live in peace and security. On June 8, 2014, Pope Francis hosted Israeli President Shimon Peres, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomaios in the Vatican Gardens to explore new paths toward peace in Jerusalem and reconciliation between seemingly irreconcilable foes.
 
At that historic meeting, participants acknowledged that although previous peace efforts by world leaders had failed to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and broader Middle East crises, renewed and more determined efforts must be made. In his address, Pope Francis—whom President Peres described as “a bridge builder of brotherhood and peace”—stressed that while human ingenuity is necessary, peacemakers must also rely on the help of God.
 
In the death of Pope Francis, the world has lost not only a peacemaker and a bridge builder but also a spiritual father—universal shepherd who was always ready to offer his flock spiritual nourishment at the opportune time.
 
Following Pope Francis’ burial, 134 eligible cardinal electors from the College of Cardinals convened in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel beginning May 7 to participate in the papal conclave culminating in the election of the new Pope. Cardinals aged 80 and above are ineligible to vote or be voted for in a conclave. This explains why the only Nigerian cardinal who is both papabile and eligible to vote is Peter Cardinal Okpaleke, the Catholic Bishop of Ekwulobia, Anambra State, who was created cardinal by Pope Francis on August 27, 2022. Other Nigerian cardinals—Francis Arinze (92), John Onaiyekan (81), and Anthony Olubunmi Okogie (88)—may attend the conclave but cannot vote or be voted for.
 
All said, we urge Pope Leo XIV to uphold traditional teachings and values, and to champion peace and mutual understanding as a universal spiritual father. Given the urgency of the moment, Pope Leo should call for peace across the world to help unite the human family. He must tear down walls of enmity and set the Church on a path of hope, harmony, love, and friendship.
 
Like Pope Francis, Pope Leo should be a bridge builder, identifying common values as the foundation for a new international order grounded in justice, service, mutual respect, and human dignity.