On 21 April, Pope Francis passed away on Easter at the age of 88 in his residence, Casa Santa Marta, in the Vatican. He served as the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State for over 12 years. He was the 266th bishop of Rome and the first pope from Latin America. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, he was a member of the Jesuit order and rose to prominence during the Argentine financial crisis of the early 2000s. He succeeded Pope Benedict XVI following his historic resignation in 2013.

One of Pope Francis’s first symbolic acts as pontiff was washing the feet of young offenders at a juvenile detention center on Maundy Thursday — a tradition that has since been widely emulated across churches globally. Known for his humility and deep concern for the marginalized, he often emphasized solidarity with the poor.

Throughout his papacy, he spoke out on key global issues, including the 2015 European migration crisis, urging Catholic communities to host refugee families. He also repeatedly called for peace in global conflicts, including the ongoing war in Gaza. While admired for his compassionate leadership, Pope Francis also faced criticism, particularly over controversial comments. In 2024, he apologized after reports emerged of homophobic remarks during a closed-door meeting, affirming his broader tolerance and outreach to the LGBTQ+ community. He also acknowledged the Church’s mishandling of child sexual abuse cases, most notably during a visit to Belgium, where he publicly condemned the actions of abusive clergy and demanded accountability.

Following the death, European leaders have expressed profound sorrow over the death of Pope Francis. France’s President Emmanuel Macron honored him as a "man of humility who stood with the most vulnerable." Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz described him as a "champion of the weak, a reconciler, and a warm-hearted person."  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remarked that Pope Francis "inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love for the less fortunate." European Parliament President Roberta Metsola praised his "love for life, hope for peace, compassion for equality, and social justice." King Charles III and Queen Camilla expressed their "heavy hearts," recalling their recent meeting with the Pope and honoring his compassion and tireless dedication to people of faith. Polish President Andrzej Duda highlighted Pope Francis's humility and modesty, while Prime Minister Donald Tusk remembered him as a "kind, warm, and sensitive man."

References
Karl Sexton, “Pope Francis dies at age 88 due to stroke, Vatican says,” Deutsche Welle, 21 April 2025
Christopher Strack, “Francis, a pope both conservative and unconventional,” Deutsche Welle, 21 April 2025
Tim Janszky, Nehal Johri, “Pope Francis: What legacy does he leave the Catholic Church?,” Deutsche Welle, 21 April 2025
Astrid Prange de Oliveria, “Did Francis live up to promise as 'pope of the poor'?,” Deutsche Welle, 21 April 2025
Andrew Naughtie, “Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 1936-2025,” Euronews, 21 April 2025