A Look Back at the Pontificate of Pope Francis

Relevant Radio mourns the passing of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 in Rome today. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, to Italian immigrants in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was a man who consistently walked with the poor and brought the Church to the margins. On March 13, 2013, he was elected as the 265th successor of St. Peter—the first Jesuit, the first pope from the Americas, and the first to choose the name Francis, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.

“I want a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets,” he once said—words that defined a pontificate marked by humility, mercy, and a call to missionary discipleship. Whether it was his decision to live in a modest apartment and cook his own meals, or his constant urging for priests to show apostolic courage and mercy, Pope Francis embodied a radical simplicity that resonated globally.

From his first public appearance—asking the world to pray for him before imparting his blessing—Pope Francis signaled a shift in tone and heart. His deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary was evident in his frequent visits to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he prayed before and after each apostolic trip and where he requested to be buried.

His global journeys brought him face-to-face with the suffering of the world: crying with street children in the Philippines, challenging Congress to protect life and the vulnerable, and calling all Christians to weep, pray, and act with compassion.

Pope Francis preached the Gospel not only in word but in his every gesture. As we remember him, let us pray for his soul and continue his mission of mercy, justice, and hope.

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