Payam Javan: Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died on April 21, 2025, at 88, following a respiratory crisis that led to double pneumonia. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, he served as pontiff since 2013, leaving a legacy of advocating for the poor, immigrants, and the environment while navigating controversies over his progressive reforms. Hours before his passing, he blessed thousands in St. Peter’s Square during Easter Sunday, embodying his lifelong dedication to Gospel values. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced his death, praising Francis’s courage and universal love, and will now oversee funeral preparations and the conclave to elect a new pope.

Francis’s papacy was marked by historic firsts, including being the first Jesuit pope and addressing global issues like climate change and immigration. His emphasis on mercy, inspired by his own calling to priesthood after a transformative confession at 17, led to actions like washing prisoners’ feet and canonizing nearly 1,000 saints. However, his tolerance toward the LGBT community, criticism of capitalism, and agreements with China sparked conservative backlash, with some labeling him a Marxist. As the Catholic Church, with its 1.3 billion followers, mourns, the world reflects on a pontiff whose humility and reforms reshaped the Church amid both admiration and division.