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Pope Francis, who encouraged Catholics to embrace a more compassionate view on many issues but found it difficult to close the book on past abuses by clergy, has died. He was 88.
Francis passed away at 7:35 a.m. Monday in Rome, the Vatican said in a statement. He had been hospitalized in Rome in mid-February with bronchitis, which progressed to pneumonia in both lungs — the last in a litany of respiratory and other medical challenges he had faced. On Sunday, he had met with US Vice President JD Vance.
The spiritual leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics since March 2013, Francis hailed from Argentina, making him the first pope from the Americas, as well as the first Jesuit to hold the position. He became pontiff after the abdication of Benedict XVI and almost immediately reinvigorated Catholicism with his easy demeanor, which was in contrast to his predecessor.
Where Benedict was seen as a guardian of orthodox doctrine, more comfortable with books than crowds, Francis arrived as an often-beaming, humble pope with an expansive message. He captivated many liberal non-Catholics with his focus on poverty and human suffering and called climate change a moral issue that must be addressed. Rejecting the perks and privileges of his position, he shunned the palatial papal apartments in favor of the Vatican guest house.
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