Pope Francis, a Pastor of Simplicity and Synodality, Dies at 88

By IndraStra Global Editorial Team

Cover Image Attribute: The file photo of Pope Francis waving to people visiting St. Peter's Square in the Vatican in 2022. / Source: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty Images

On Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, the Catholic Church mourned the loss of Pope Francis, who passed away at 7:35 AM in the Casa Santa Marta, his modest Vatican residence. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, delivered the somber announcement at 9:45 AM, addressing the faithful with heartfelt words: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized." The 88-year-old pontiff, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, succumbed after a prolonged battle with respiratory ailments, including a recent bout of bilateral pneumonia diagnosed in February 2025. His death marks the end of a transformative papacy that reshaped the Church’s witness through simplicity, environmental advocacy, and a commitment to synodality, while also exposing deep divisions within the global Catholic community.
Pope Francis’ final months were marked by health struggles that exposed his physical frailty but did not diminish his spiritual resolve. Admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on February 14, 2025, for bronchitis, his condition deteriorated, leading to a diagnosis of bilateral pneumonia four days later. After 38 days of hospitalization, he returned to the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery, a testament to his preference for simplicity over the grandeur of the Apostolic Palace. His medical history included a significant surgery in 1957, when a severe respiratory infection necessitated the removal of part of his lung. Respiratory issues plagued him throughout his papacy, forcing the cancellation of a planned trip to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation. Despite these challenges, Francis remained a visible figure of pastoral care until his final days.
The Vatican has begun preparations for the pontiff’s funeral, guided by the updated liturgical book, Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, which Francis approved in April 2024. The second edition of the text reflects his desire for a simplified rite that emphasizes the faith of the Church in the Risen Christ. Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, noted, “The renewed rite seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.” The ascertainment of death will occur in a chapel, and the Pope’s body will be placed immediately in a coffin, a departure from past practices. Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, announced that the late Pope’s remains may be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, for the faithful to pay their respects, with further details to be confirmed following the first Congregation of the Cardinals. In a break with tradition, Francis requested burial not in the Vatican but in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, the first pope to choose this site in centuries.
Pope Francis’ papacy, which began in 2013 following the historic resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, was marked by a series of firsts. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas and the southern hemisphere, and the first to adopt the name Francis, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi. His unconventional approach extended to delivering a TED talk, a modern gesture that reflected his desire to engage the world beyond the Church’s walls. From the outset, Francis sought to present the papacy in a new light, eschewing the opulence of the Apostolic Palace for the simpler Casa Santa Marta. His modest lifestyle—marked by plain dress and habits—became a hallmark of his pontificate, embodying the Gospel’s call to humility and service. Cardinal Farrell praised this legacy, stating, “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.”
Francis’ papacy was a study in navigating the tensions between progressive and conservative factions within the Church, often leaving both sides dissatisfied yet undeniably impacted. His 2016 apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, sparked fierce debate for its perceived openness to allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive the Eucharist, a move conservatives viewed as a departure from tradition. Progressives, however, were disappointed by his reluctance to enact bolder reforms, such as ordaining women as deacons or allowing married priests, as seen in his 2020 exhortation Querida Amazonia. In that document, he declined to endorse priestly marriage or female deacons, citing a lack of consensus and the risk of division. His criticism of Germany’s “Synodal Way,” a series of conferences advocating for changes contrary to Church teaching, further alienated progressives. Francis warned that the initiative threatened Church unity, a concern he voiced repeatedly. Conservatives, meanwhile, challenged his teachings through formal “dubia” or theological doubts, prompting Francis to take the rare step of responding publicly in 2023.
Beyond these controversies, Francis’ legacy is defined by two monumental contributions: his environmental teachings and his promotion of synodality. His 2015 encyclical, Laudato si’: On Care for Our Common Home, was a groundbreaking expansion of Catholic social teaching, offering a comprehensive theological and ethical framework for environmental stewardship. Building on the work of predecessors like Benedict XVI and John Paul II, Francis acknowledged the reality of climate change, summarizing scientific research to advocate for evidence-based solutions. He argued that combating environmental destruction required an “ecological conversion” of the human heart, rooted in Jesus’ way of love for creation and the poor. This spiritual dimension, he insisted, was essential to counter consumerism and exploitation, fostering sustainable change and fraternity. His emphasis on the God-given nature of the planet resonated globally, positioning the Church as a moral voice in the climate crisis.
Equally significant was Francis’ commitment to synodality, a process of communal discernment involving bishops, clergy, and laity in transparent dialogue guided by the Holy Spirit. Drawing on his Jesuit spirituality, which emphasizes spiritual formation and discernment, Francis introduced a model of conversation centered on listening and friendship. The Synod on Synodality, culminating in its second session in October 2024, embodied this vision, though its long-term impact remains unclear. Participants, including Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, described the process as transformative, with Coleridge noting that the 2015 Synod “was an extraordinary experience [and] in some ways an awakening.” Synodality, for Francis, was not merely a process but a way of being Church, fostering unity through dialogue despite the risk of political distortion. His emphasis on listening to the Spirit and one another offered a path for the Church to navigate its divisions and live out its mission of love.
Francis’ papacy was a paradox, inspiring both profound joy and fierce opposition. He laid bare the fault lines within Catholicism, triggering debates over identity, doctrine, and the Church’s role in the modern world. His welcoming pastoral style, rooted in the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, gave clear witness to the life and love of Jesus, yet his discerning spirit often frustrated those seeking swift change. By straddling the progressive-conservative divide, he highlighted the complexity of Catholic identity, challenging the Church to move beyond labels. His death leaves a Church more divided than ever, grappling with uncertainty and unanswered questions. Yet, through synodality and his call for ecological conversion, Francis provided a roadmap for a Church more attuned to Jesus’ mission of love—a mission he embodied from his election to his final breath.
As the faithful prepare to bid farewell to Pope Francis, his request for a simplified funeral underscores his lifelong commitment to humility. The rites, designed to reflect the faith of a pastor rather than the power of a worldly leader, will serve as a final testament to his vision. In the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he will rest, and in the hearts of Catholics worldwide, Francis’ legacy endures: a call to love, listen, and care for our common home, even amidst division and doubt. His life, as Cardinal Farrell reflected, was one of fidelity, courage, and universal love, dedicated to the poorest and most marginalized. The Church now faces the challenge of carrying forward his vision in a world that both celebrates and contests his enduring impact.

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