Poignant photographs depicting Pope Francis’s life have shown the head of the Catholic Church interacting with people from all walks of life – after it was announced that he died on Easter Monday.
Pope Francis became the leader of 1.3 billion Catholics in 2013 – following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He was known for being passionate about climate change and critical of consumerism. The news came after it was revealed that the pontiff had been experiencing health problems including double pneumonia. Since he was taken to the hospital, the Vatican released regular updates on his condition and news of his health. As a result of his hospitalisation, many of the pontiff’s recent events were subsequently cancelled. The Bishop of Rome – which was one of his official titles – died on Easter Monday, aged 88 – not long after addressing the crowds in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican. Cardinal Ferrell revealed the sad news at the Casa Santa Marta, a location close to St Peter’s Basilica.
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Tributes have poured in from all over the world for Pope Francis – whose name at birth was Jorge Mario Bergoglio when he was born in Argentina on December 17, 1936- he was the first pontiff from Latin America. Tributes from dignitaries which have already been delivered include from the prime minister, Keir Starmer and King Charles, who recently visited the Vatican with Camilla.
Mourners from all over the world have gathered in St Peter’s Square, in Vatican City, to pay their respects to Pope Francis following his death this morning. Shortly after noon Rome time, the great bells of St. Peterâs Basilica began tolling to mark Francisâ death. There will now be a formal process which will take place to determine who will become the next pope.
Pope Francis made history as the world’s first pope from Latin America. The Argentine was a passionate football supporter and was especially endeared by people from his region – where nearly half of the world’s over 1 billion Roman Catholics live. The leader of the Catholic Church welcomed the greatest stars of football at the Vatican – from Argentine compatriots Lionel Messi and the late Diego Maradona to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gianluigi Buffon – signing dozens of shirts and balls from around the world. The pope often recounted playing as a young boy on the streets of Buenos Aires, using a ball made of rags.
The pope met celebrities from all walks of life including athletes, film stars and political figures. He was a highly sought after person amongst celebrities of faith or those had a curiosity to meet the man Catholics see as their God’s representative on Earth. The pope was also highly respected amongst the masses. He was widely acknowledged for his commitment to interfaith dialogue and was dedicated to fostering good relations between the Catholic Church and Islamic faiths. He also attempted to make Catholicism more welcoming with his acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community. The precedence was a off-the-cuff remark to journalists on a flight back from Brazil where he spoke about gay clergy.
He said: “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge them?” The leader of the Catholic Church later declared homosexuality was not a crime, part of his mission to make the institution more welcoming. However, despite that, others continued to insist he was still going too far with his progressive social views, and accused him of steering the Catholic Church away from more traditional values.
In more recent years, the pope left some progressive people feeling betrayed – when for example -a landmark declaration allowing clerical blessings for same-sex couples was diluted down. And in April 2024, he appeared to reiterate the church’s staunch opposition to gender reassignment, surrogacy, abortion and euthanasia, by signing the text “Dignitas Infinita” (Infinite Dignity).
On March 13, 2013, he became pope at the age of 76, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI, the first pope in 600 years to resign from office. In his February 2013 announcement, Pope Benedict, who was 85, said the modern world was changing so quickly and profoundly that someone of his age and era was “no longer suited” to the papacy. Pope France’s death will be upsetting to many across the planet as they grieve and celebrate the life of a man who led the Catholic Church through unprecedented times.
Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina on December 17, 1936, and became the first Jesuit Latin American pope
Pope Francis, when he was still Jorge Bergoglio, serving a meal in Buenos Aires
The late pope when he was Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, seen here aged 68, officiating a holy mass for the eternal rest of Pope John Paul II April 4, 2005 at Buenos Aires’ cathedral
The late pope, seen here as a cardinal, was reportedly a fan of San Lorenzo Futbol Club
Pope Francis spoke of the Ukraine conflict in the days before his death having met with Volodymyr Zelensky during the war
Angelina Jolie met the Pope at the Vatican
Comedian Stephen K Amos meeting Pope Francis during he BBC show Pilgrimage: The Road to Rome
George Clooney and his wife Amal Clooney also met the Pope in 2016
The Pope held a private audience with Donald Trump during his first presidency in 2017
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom were among the famous faces the Pope met
Pope Francis meets with Brendan Rogers, the manager of the Celtic Football Club
Pope Francis meets fellow Argentine Diego Maradona during an audience with the players of the ‘Partita Interreligiosa Della Pace’
Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican on September 30, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic
On April 10, King Charles III and Queen Camilla meet Pope Francis during day three of their State visit to The Republic of Italy
