A Journey of Compassion, Service, and Global Impact

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EnergiesNet.com 04 21 2025

Today, on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced with deep sorrow the death of Pope Francis. In his poignant video message, he declared:

> “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized. 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, the 88-year-old pontiff who led the Catholic Church for just over 12 years, passed away at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. The holy see has yet to announce the funeral details for the first Latin American pope in history, and in the coming days, a conclave will be convened in Rome to elect his successor.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he entered the Society of Jesus at the age of 21. Following his ordination in 1969, his lifelong journey of service saw him work as a Jesuit provincial, seminary rector, and professor. His rise in the ecclesiastical hierarchy continued when St. John Paul II appointed him auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992, later becoming archbishop in 1998 and a cardinal in 2001. His unexpected election on March 13, 2013, at the age of 76, marked several historic firsts: he was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first to choose the name Francis, honoring St. Francis of Assisi’s devotion to poverty, peace, and creation.

Throughout his 12-year pontificate, Pope Francis redefined the papacy with an emphasis on mercy, environmental stewardship, and outreach to the “peripheries” of both the Church and society. He made 47 apostolic journeys outside Italy—even though he never visited his native Argentina—and canonized 942 saints, more than any of his predecessors. His prolific papacy also saw the publication of four encyclicals, seven apostolic exhortations, and 75 motu proprio documents. Francis reshaped the global outlook of the Catholic Church by convening 10 consistories to create 163 new cardinals, often naming prelates from regions that had never before been represented, such as Mongolia and South Sudan.

In his final years, health challenges increasingly took their toll. The pontiff had undergone surgeries in July 2021 and June 2023. In November 2023, he suffered pulmonary inflammation, and by February 2025, he was hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for bronchitis and a respiratory infection. Nevertheless, throughout his tenure, he led the Church through historic challenges, including the global COVID-19 pandemic. A memorable moment was his extraordinary urbi et orbi blessing in an empty St. Peter’s Square in March 2020—a moment of unified prayer amid isolation. He also consistently called for peace during conflicts in Ukraine and the Holy Land and initiated reforms through four convoked synods, including the extensive Synod on Synodality that concluded its second session in October 2024. Notably, he also set in motion significant reforms of the Roman Curia and addressed the clergy abuse crisis with measures like the 2019 motu proprio Vos Estis Lux Mundi.

In the wake of his passing, after the traditional nine days of mourning and the solemn papal funeral, cardinals from around the globe will soon gather in Rome for general congregations and the subsequent conclave to elect his successor. Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy defined by compassion, humility, and a transformative vision for a truly global Church.

This unified narrative not only recounts the solemn announcement and circumstances of Pope Francis’ passing but also encapsulates the rich tapestry of his life—from his humble beginnings in Argentina to his transformative leadership on the world stage. Would you like to delve deeper into any aspect of his legacy, such as his global impact on the Church or the specific reforms he initiated?

Source: Vatican News, The Observatore Romano, Catholic News Agency, IA

Writting by Elio Ohep, EnergiesNet

EnergiesNet.com 04 21 2025