TLDR:
• Pope Francis dies aged 88
• Oversaw a turbulent decade at the Vatican
• Advocacy for Gaza and Church reforms unfinished
VATICAN CITY (The Thursday Times) — Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88 following complications from double pneumonia, according to an announcement by the Vatican. His final days saw a flurry of public engagements despite mounting health issues, ending a papacy that redefined the global image of the Catholic Church while leaving fierce internal divisions unresolved.
Pope Francis made his final public appearance during the Easter Sunday blessing at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican. He has died at the age of 88. pic.twitter.com/QohGqHXB8v
— The Thursday Times (@thursday_times) April 21, 2025
A pope from Argentina who changed expectations
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Francis was elected on 13 March 2013 in a move that surprised Vatican insiders. His election symbolised a shift away from the traditional European leadership of the Church, with his Jesuit background and commitment to the poor signalling a new direction.
Francis deliberately rejected many papal traditions, refusing to reside in the grand Apostolic Palace, opting instead for simpler accommodation in the Vatican guesthouse. He framed this decision as necessary for his “psychological health,” a theme that echoed throughout his papacy as he worked to portray an image of humility.
He inherited an institution racked by clerical abuse scandals and fierce internal infighting, tasked with restoring both credibility and internal discipline. Early efforts to restructure Vatican bureaucracy and finance were met with widespread praise, but progress slowed under the weight of resistance from entrenched conservative forces.
Health struggles that shaped his final years
Pope Francis battled significant health issues over the course of his later years. Having lost part of a lung as a young man, respiratory infections and reduced mobility increasingly restricted his activities. Hospitalised multiple times in recent years, he nonetheless maintained a packed schedule, hosting foreign leaders and conducting international trips, including a major Asia-Pacific tour just months before his death.
Despite orders for rest after serious hospital admissions, Francis continued public appearances, relying on aides to deliver speeches when necessary. His determination to remain active raised questions inside Vatican circles about whether earlier interventions might have prolonged his declining health.
His final public event — an Easter Sunday blessing at St Peter’s Square — saw him visibly frail but still engaging with the faithful.
Advocacy for Gaza and Palestinians
Throughout his leadership, Pope Francis made the plight of Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, a centrepiece of his international appeals. He consistently called for an end to violence in the region, demanded the opening of humanitarian corridors, and condemned civilian suffering in both Gaza and the West Bank.
In a series of high-profile statements and appearances, Francis openly criticised military actions impacting Palestinian civilians, urging the international community to prioritise human rights over political interests. His advocacy, unusual in its directness for a sitting pope, drew sharp reactions globally — praised by humanitarian groups, criticised by some political leaders, and even quietly resisted within parts of the Vatican diplomatic corps.
A papacy marked by reform and resistance
Francis’s leadership saw some of the most significant structural changes inside the Vatican since the Second Vatican Council. He pushed for financial transparency, reduced the privileges of the Curia, and expanded leadership opportunities for lay Catholics.
Yet, progress on tackling clerical abuse remained mixed. Although Vatican law was strengthened and some abusive clergy were held accountable, survivors often expressed frustration at the pace and limits of change.
Francis also ignited fierce debates over doctrine. His openness to issues such as same-sex relationships, divorced Catholics receiving communion, and the role of women in the Church provoked strong backlash from conservatives. In contrast, progressives frequently accused him of half-measures, criticising the Vatican’s continued doctrinal rigidity.
A legacy with unfinished business
Pope Francis appointed nearly 80% of the cardinal electors who will choose the next pope, significantly tilting the College of Cardinals towards those sympathetic to his vision. However, his passing leaves the future direction of the Church uncertain, with ideological divisions likely to shape the upcoming conclave.