On Apr. 21, 2025, Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away. As the leader of the Catholic Church, he was respected by millions. His role was very important as he guided the church, spoke about world issues, and always encouraged peace and kindness.
Before becoming Pope, he worked his way up through the Church, starting as a priest and later becoming a bishop. He was highly educated, spoke several languages, and wrote many books, including “Dilexit nos,” “Laudato si’,” “Amoris laetitia,” “The Joy of the Gospel,” “Fratelli tutti” and many more.
He died last week at the Vatican. Officials said his death was due to old age and various health issues such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and bronchiectasis, a chronic lung condition he had been dealing with. After the news came out, thousands of people came to the Vatican to pay their respects. There was a big funeral service attended by leaders from around the world, such as Britain’s Prince William, the UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Donald Trump and many more.
Vice President JD Vance met with the Pope just days before his death, leading many to have speculations and jokes about how Vance somehow caused his death. Vance said Wednesday that it was “Pretty crazy” that he was among the last officials to meet with Pope Francis before his death earlier this week, CBC News. “When I saw him, I didn’t know that he had less than 24 hours still on this earth,” Vance told reporters in Agra, India. “I think it was a great blessing.” He also said he knew the Pope was “Very ill,” but he “Didn’t realize how sick he was.”
Now, people are wondering who the next Pope will be, but many believe it’s more important to honor the one we just lost. The process for choosing a Pope isn’t that simple. A baptized Catholic male, typically a cardinal (Bishops and Archbishops appointed by the Pope), must be elected by the College of Cardinals during a papal conclave. The Pope is almost always chosen from among the Cardinals. When a Pope dies, the Fisherman’s Ring, which serves as the Pope’s official seal, is destroyed. This ritual is performed to prevent the ring from being used to forge documents and to symbolize the end of the Pope’s authority. Additionally, the papal apartment is sealed to prevent looting and ensure the privacy of the Pope’s private papers.
Overall, the Pope was a man beloved by many, and his death will leave a mark on many people. Now, many are left pondering who the new Pope will be and if he will be able to fill his predecessor’s shoes.
