Pope Francis has died, Vatican says in video statement
VATICAN CITY. Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a figure who both inspired admiration and provoked deep division within the Roman Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced on Monday through a solemn video statement.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” the Vatican said, confirming the end of a historic papacy marked by reform, global outreach, and internal controversy. The Pope had recently battled a severe case of double pneumonia, from which he had initially recovered.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was elected as the 266th pope on March 13, 2013, following the unexpected resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. His election stunned Church observers, as he was seen as an outsider to the Vatican’s traditional power structures. Known for his humility and concern for the poor, Francis immediately set a different tone for the papacy.
Rejecting the grand papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, Francis chose instead to live in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta guesthouse, citing his “psychological health” and a desire for community life. His symbolic gestures and straightforward style resonated with many around the world, even as they unsettled traditionalists within the Church.
He inherited a deeply troubled institution rocked by scandals, particularly those involving clerical sex abuse, and infighting within the Curia, the Church’s administrative body. Tasked with cleaning house and restoring moral authority, Pope Francis embarked on an ambitious reform agenda — one that was met with both praise and resistance.
Throughout his papacy, Francis faced fierce opposition from conservatives who accused him of undermining centuries-old traditions. At the same time, some progressives expressed frustration that his reforms did not go far enough in modernizing the Church’s teachings and structures.
Despite the internal discord, Pope Francis became a global moral voice. He tirelessly advocated for interfaith dialogue, environmental stewardship, and social justice, frequently championing the cause of the world’s marginalized, especially migrants and the poor.
During much of his tenure, the Vatican was home to two living popes. After Benedict XVI’s resignation in 2013, he remained within the Vatican walls, dressed in white, until his death in December 2022. Benedict’s continued presence served as a symbolic reminder of the Church’s ideological rift.
By February 2025, Pope Francis had appointed nearly 80% of the cardinals eligible to elect the next pope, significantly shaping the ideological future of the papacy. This has raised the likelihood that his successor may carry forward his progressive legacy, despite persistent resistance from conservative factions.
As tributes pour in from around the world, Pope Francis leaves behind a complex legacy, one of compassion and controversy, reform and resistance. His death marks the end of an era for a Church still wrestling with its past and its path forward.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
