Pope Francis, the much-loved spiritual guide to more than a billion Catholics worldwide, died on Saturday at 88, leaving behind a powerful legacy of compassion, reform, and interfaith understanding. Global leaders, clergy, and an estimated millions of fans around the world are celebrating the pontiff as a “beacon of compassion” and a relentless campaigner for the poor and disenfranchised.
From the Vatican to the United Nations, condolences flooded in. U.S. President, European leaders, and leaders of the Muslim and Jewish worlds alike commended Pope Francis on his work to close divides and humanize the papacy. His abiding commitment to peace, climate justice, and humanitarian issues rendered his reign one of the most revolutionary in contemporary history.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, he was the first Latin American pope and the first Jesuit to hold the papal office. Elected in 2013, he has since advocated for openness, tackled divisive issues with elegance, and endeavored to bring the Catholic Church closer to the earthly concerns of common believers.
While the world mourns his passing, numerous people turn to his lasting message of love, compassion, and togetherness as a beacon of hope in troubled times. Arrangements for a historic state funeral are being made at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, where millions are likely to converge in memory of a global spiritual icon.
