The Passing of Pope Francis – The Legacy and Controversy He Left Behind

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, marking the end of a papacy defined by both profound reform and deep division within the Roman Catholic Church. As the first Latin American pontiff, his tenure was characterized by a commitment to simplicity, a focus on mercy, and a willingness to confront both the Church’s internal crises and global social issues.

A Papacy of Firsts and Simplicity

Elected in March 2013, Pope Francis surprised many by choosing not to reside in the traditional papal apartments, instead living in a communal guesthouse for his “psychological well-being.” This gesture set the tone for a papacy that sought to embody humility and accessibility, reflecting his background as a “slum bishop” in Buenos Aires and his deep empathy for the poor.

Major Legacy: Emphasizing Mercy and Reform

Central to Pope Francis’s legacy was his emphasis on mercy, which he believed should be the guiding principle of the Church. He championed a more pastoral approach, encouraging the Vatican’s bureaucracy to serve rather than dominate, and approved a new constitution, Praedicate Evangelium, to redefine the Church’s structure and culture. His reforms included:

• Opening Vatican leadership roles to laypeople
• Promoting dialogue and synodality within the Church
• Advocating for environmental stewardship and social justice
• Tightening Church doctrine on the death penalty and just war theory
• Instituting rules requiring the reporting of abuse, with severe penalties for non-compliance4

Francis also shifted the global focus of Catholicism, appointing a diverse array of cardinals from South America, Africa, and Asia, thus moving the Church’s center of gravity away from Europe.

A Voice on Social Issues

Pope Francis was a vocal critic of powerful nations and policies he saw as unjust, notably clashing with U.S. political leaders over immigration and human dignity. He sought to make the Church more inclusive, extending pastoral care to divorced individuals, LGBT Catholics, and other groups traditionally marginalized by Church teaching. His famous remark, “Who am I to judge?” regarding gay priests, signaled a softer, more welcoming stance, though he stopped short of changing core doctrines on sexuality and marriage.

Controversies and Criticisms

Despite his efforts, Pope Francis’s papacy was not without significant controversy:

• Traditionalist Backlash: Conservatives accused him of undermining Church traditions, particularly regarding liturgy, doctrine, and social issues.
• Progressive Disappointment: Progressives felt he did not go far enough in reforming Church teachings on women’s ordination, LGBT rights, and other issues.
• Handling of Abuse and Vatican Finances: While he implemented new rules on abuse reporting, his handling of specific cases and financial scandals drew criticism. Notably, his support for certain clergy accused of misconduct and the mishandling of Vatican investments raised questions about his judgment.
• Personal Controversies: In 2024, the Vatican apologized after Francis allegedly used a derogatory slur in a closed-door discussion about gay men, highlighting the complexities and contradictions of his leadership.

A Complex, Enduring Impact

Pope Francis’s papacy leaves a legacy of both hope and unresolved tension. He sought to humanize the papal office, bring the Church closer to the marginalized, and foster a culture of mercy and service. Yet, his reforms and outspokenness also deepened internal divisions, leaving a more diverse but also more polarized Church for his successor.