By J.T. Doudna II, Guest Writer
Pope Francis photo on the altar of the Aquinas Chapel – Photo by Zoebelle Bean
Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday at 7:35 a.m. CEST. For the past three months, the Holy Father had been battling double lung pneumonia and a respiratory tract infection. The Catholic Church was joined by a diverse range of people to celebrate the life and mourn the death of the Roman Pontiff.
Pope Francis, who was originally named Jorge Bergoglio before taking the name of Francis, was elected the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church on March 13, 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI the month prior. Pope Francis was the first non-European Pope in 1,300 years and the first Latin American and Jesuit Pope. The last 12 years of Pope Francis’ pontificate were full of accomplishments, love, mercy and a fair share of criticism.
Students on campus sympathized with the passing of the Pope. “If I could describe Pope Francis in one word, it would be ‘shepherd,’” freshman John Petty said. “Christians and non-Christians loved him for who he was and how he lived… It is one thing to profess the faith, and another to live it. Pope Francis, in my judgement, did both as the Holy Father.”
Pope Francis in 2015 issued the monumental encyclical “Laudato Si’” to address the climate crisis and calling for a greater care of our common home. Pope Francis challenged all the faithful to practice more careful environmental awareness and to preserve this gift of God for all peoples. The Holy Father pushed and advocated for better care of immigrants and the impoverished, calling for a more accepting society that truly responded to Christ’s call to love and accept their neighbors. Pope Francis’ advocacy for the less fortunate earned him the name of “The People’s Pope” and gained him a reputation for acceptance and love for all regardless of difference. The Supreme Pontiff also advocated for a wider role for women in the ministry of the Church and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people, while at the same time reaffirming the Church’s position on homosexuality and female ordination.
Pope Francis was not easily intimidated. In 2021, among ISIS threats and Islamic Extremists devastating the Christian community in Iraq, the Holy Father visited the faithful there. The Pope strengthened the people’s morale and called for forgiveness, staying true to his belief that the peace of Christ is more powerful than any act of violence or hatred. Pope Francis, in the face of death and war, called for a ceasefire, peace and prayer several times during the war between Israel and Gaza.
Pope Francis before his death – Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
The late Pope was no stranger to humility either. In 2014, during a penitential service where countless priests were hearing the faithful’s confessions, the Pope was to be stationed at one as well. However, on his way to his booth, he broke away and knelt down at another booth to have his own confession heard. Pope Francis understood that if he was to be a shepherd to the faithful, he would have to lead by example. The Holy Father continued these acts of humility throughout his papacy in washing the feet of prisoners, refugees, and immigrants, following Christ’s example.
The Cardinals of the Catholic Church will gather together 16-21 days after his death to begin the conclave to elect the next Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church. Cardinal Tagle, Cardinal Sarah and Cardinal Parolin are some of the popular candidates among the faithful to succeed Pope Francis in the papacy and take on the role of “the Vicar of Christ.”
The Saint 