On Monday, April 21, Pope Francis I died in Vatican City in Rome. On Easter, in defiance of medical advice, he gave a public speech before meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. Though his staff described his health as improving last week, at 88 years old and struggling with lung ailments, his passing was not unexpected.
Francis was born in 1936 to an Italian immigrant family in Argentina. Given the name Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he embodied a number of firsts. He was the first pope to have worked as a nightclub bouncer, the first pope born in the Americas, and the first pope since the eighth century to have not been born in Europe. He was the first Jesuit pope and the first to accept a name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. With the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, he was also the first pope since the 13th century to take office while a previous pope still lived.
Even before becoming Bishop of Rome, Francis had the reputation of preferring informality over the trappings of clerical office. He took public transportation and cooked his own meals. More recently, as pope, he chose orthopedic shoes over the papal red slippers.
He also built a reputation as a friend of outsiders. He spoke up for migrant peoples around the world, occasionally clashing with President Trump. He spoke up for the dignity of the poor and reminded Roman Catholics that caring for “the least of these” was not an optional aspect of faith and practice. He was also quite clear on the horrors of abortion, referring to it as “hiring a hitman to solve a problem,” as well as the ethical crisis created by artificial reproductive technologies.
On the other hand, he courted and created much controversy. His tendency to speak freely and “off the cuff” brought moral confusion. More than a few conservative voices within the church were silenced under Francis’s more progressive priorities. On important issues like the role of women in the church, the ethics of LGBT, and global conflicts in the Middle East and in Europe, Francis had a habit of giving vague and confusing comments to the press. More than once, his staff were forced to walk back his statements. In a media environment eager to see the Catholic Church overturn established doctrines and practices, it was often hard to tell if Pope Francis was attempting to change things or was just inexperienced in dealing with the press.
What most concerns many of us are those who were put into office by Pope Francis, who will play a large role in shaping the ongoing trajectory of the Roman Church. When the College of Cardinals gathers to choose the next pope, 109 out of the 135 will have been appointed by Pope Francis I. Surprises are always possible, but it’s likely that the next man to head the Vatican will hold similar or more progressive convictions.
Some believe the most likely choice will be between two African bishops, one more progressive and the other more conservative. However, even those antagonistic to the Roman Church will be affected by the choice. For Roman Catholics, the call to pray is direct and obvious, but even those of us who do not embrace Roman Catholic doctrine and leadership should pray for God’s mercy, grace, and wisdom here. Many are mourning, and billions will be affected by the decisions that will be made in the days and months ahead.