By John Lavenburg and Currents News
A Legacy of Compassion: Remembering Pope Francis and His Global Impact
PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Pope Francis, known in part for his consistent advocacy on behalf of those who suffer and for promoting an inclusive approach to Church governance worldwide, has died at the age of 88.
Pope Francis passed away in Vatican City at 7:35 a.m. local time on April 21, bringing to close a 12-year papacy that began on March 13, 2013. As the news spread, tributes were set up outside Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City, where he lived. Virtual ones poured in online.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on Dec. 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires. His father, Mario, an immigrant from Italy, was an accountant, and his mother, Regina Sivori, whose parents were from Italy, dedicated her time to raising their five children — Pope Francis, his two brothers, and two sisters.
In his young adult years, he graduated from a technical secondary school as a chemical technician and then chose the path of the priesthood, entering the Immaculate Conception Seminary in the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires.
He entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1958, and over the next 11 years, he earned degrees in philosophy and theology and taught literature and psychology at multiple universities.
He was ordained to the priesthood on Dec. 13, 1969. After continuing his training in Spain, he made his final profession to the Jesuits on April 22, 1973.
That July, he was appointed provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina, an office he held for six years. For the next 19 years, he was a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires, served as rector of a local college, finished his doctoral degree in theology in Germany, and was a spiritual director and confessor at a college in Córdoba, Argentina.
Pope Francis was then appointed an auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires by Pope St. John Paul II on May 20, 1992, choosing at his episcopal ordination the motto “miserando atque eligendo” — “by having mercy, by choosing him” — which Pope Francis would go on to keep throughout his papacy.
On June 3, 1997, Pope Francis was elevated to coadjutor archbishop of Buenos Aires, succeeding Cardinal Antonio Quarracino, who died on Feb. 28, 1998.
Three years later, Pope St. John Paul II made the future Pope Francis a cardinal.
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In a move that encapsulates his humble nature, after he was made a cardinal, he asked the faithful from back home not to come to Rome to celebrate but instead take the money they would’ve spent on the journey and donate it to the poor.
In many ways, his approach as archbishop of Buenos Aires was a precursor to how he would eventually lead the global Church — emphasizing co-responsibility of clergy and laity in leadership, evangelization, providing care for the poor, the sick, and migrants; and rejecting clericalism. Fast forward to March 13, 2013, when he was elected to the papacy.
He chose the name Francis after St. Francis of Assisi, explaining to journalists about a week later that St. Francis was “the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation.”
“How would I like a Church that is poor and that is for the poor,” he said.
Ever humble and insistent on simplicity, Pope Francis chose not to live in the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace but instead at Domus Sanctae Marthae, a Vatican guesthouse. The arrangement allowed him “to live in community with others,” a Vatican spokesperson said at the time.
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Pope Francis never wavered from his vision of a more inclusive, global Church that always kept in mind those on the margins — on the outskirts — of society.
Of the 149 cardinals Pope Francis created, 89 were from non-European countries. During his papacy, he traveled to more than 60 countries, touching every corner of the globe and reaching those in countries and places where Catholicism was far from the most practiced religion.
Pope Francis wrote four encyclicals, focusing on faith as a guiding light in life, care for the environment, the relationship between God, humans, and the earth, fraternity between all men and women, and the divine love of Jesus Christ.
He also convened three synods, including on the family, young people, the Church in the Pan-Amazon region, and synodality, which explored journeying together in the faith. The latter gave women and the laity a seat at the table for the first time in history and reshaped the approach to leadership in the Church with a greater emphasis on co-responsibility.
Over the course of his pontificate, Pope Francis was a champion for the role of women in the Church, saying in 2024 that “the contribution of women is more necessary than ever.” He consistently elevated women to leadership roles. Perhaps most notably, in February 2025, he appointed Sister Raffaella Petrini, an Italian nun, as the first woman governor of the Vatican City State.
Pope Francis championed the cause of immigrants, often calling them “our brothers and sisters,” long advocating for their better treatment and for better policies. As far as social issues go, the plight of the migrant was a priority of his pontificate, frequently using the four words “welcoming,” “protecting,” “promoting,” and “integrating.”
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Pope Francis’ pontificate was one marked by greater inclusivity in the Church for LGBTQ+ people. Early on, he famously said, “Who am I to judge?” when asked about gay priests. And in 2023, he approved priests giving blessings to same-sex couples.
He made strides in the area of accountability and the protection of minors and young people. In 2019, he established “Vos Estis Lux Mundi,” which essentially mandates the reporting of all sexual abuse allegations to Church authorities, including allegations against those in leadership positions.
Not all of the statements and decisions Pope Francis made over his 12-year pontificate were received well, especially by more traditional Catholics, one being the restrictions he placed on the Traditional Latin Mass, which he said were done to preserve unity.
However, in terms of legacy, from Day 1, Pope Francis advocated for unity and globality, co-responsibility, and attentiveness to those who suffer, especially the sick, the poor, and migrants, among others.
Only time will tell which of his teachings and decisions will be cemented, but early indications are that many have, which can only be viewed as a promising sign as far as his legacy is concerned.