Every man elected to the office of the papacy hopes to leave behind a lasting legacy, a testament of love and dedication to the Catholic Church and the world. Jorge Mario Bergoglio began his pontificate in 2013 as Pope Francis. By the time of his passing on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, he had amassed a remarkable legacy over his 12-year papacy.
Ten Things We’ll Remember About The Papacy Of Pope Francis
- Laudato Si’ – Pope Francis’ second encyclical, published in 2015, addressed the care of the earth. This is sometimes considered his first papal encyclical, as Lumen fidei, his first published one, was mostly a completion of Pope Benedict XVI’s work. Laudato Si’ took a different tone than other encyclicals. It focused on care of the earth and God’s creation therein, addressed issues like climate change and even the culture of death, noting the throwaway mentality in modern society. (www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html)
- Jubilee Year of Mercy – Pope Francis declared 2016 as the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, with the motto “Merciful like the Father.” It was considered an extraordinary jubilee in that it fell outside the ordinary 25-year cycle and focused solely on the mercy of God. For the first time, Holy Doors were opened in dioceses across the world to offer special graces to the masses of Catholics who passed through them.
- Care of the poor – When Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope, Brazilian Cardinal Cláudio Hummes whispered to him, “Don’t forget the poor.” He took the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, known for his love of the poor and nature. From the first moment of his papacy, Pope Francis tried to emulate this, choosing humble symbols of the papal office and not living in the lavish apartments. Additionally, he set up a medical clinic in St. Peter’s Square and showers for the homeless. (www.oursundayvisitor.com/vatican-opens-clinic-in-st-peters-square-for-world-day-of-the-poor/)
- Pastoral trips – Pope Francis traveled extensively during his pontificate. In 2016, he became the first pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula on a trip to the United Arab Emirates’ capital city of Abu Dhabi. He made the first papal visit to Iraq in 2021 and in 2023, the first to visit Mongolia. He also made trips to countries in southeast Asia and Africa, the first papal visits to these locations since the late 1980s.
- World Youth Day – Lisbon, Portugal, hosted World Youth Day in 2023, an event that drew over a million pilgrims to the country. On the fifth day, Pope Francis came to Fatima to preside over Eucharistic Adoration for roughly 1.5 million pilgrims. The following day’s closing Mass drew about the same number of attendees.
- COVID-19 pandemic – Pope Francis will long be remembered for serving as the supreme pontiff during the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Italy was particularly hit hard by the loss of lives during the pandemic. He issued a papal benediction, Urbi et Orbi, and the haunting photographs of him praying alone in St. Peter’s Square for health and healing throughout the world will continue to live on in history. (www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/03/27/read-pope-francis-urbi-et-orbi-address-coronavirus-and-jesus-calming-storm)
- Saints – In his years as pope, Francis has canonized 942 saints, including the parents of St. Therese, Louis and Zelie Martin, the first married couple to be canonized. He also elevated Mother Teresa, John XXIII, John Paul II, and Paul VI to sainthood and confirmed Pope Paul II as Blessed. He declared St. Gregory of Narek and St. Irenaeus of Lyon as Doctors of the Church. Blessed Carlo Acutis is scheduled to be named a saint in April of 2025.
Remembering When Pope Francis Was Elected
I remember when Pope Francis was elected – the excitement and energy of the first Latin American and Jesuit pope. The world held its collective breath in anticipation of what he would say and do to influence the Church and the world. Some started calling him “Francis I,” but dropped that title until the day when another pope might choose the name Francis.
The results pleased some people and offended others. He served in a distinctly different manner than his two predecessors and faced vastly different challenges during his 12-year papacy. Pope Francis received both criticism and praise during his pontificate. Many of his statements have caused controversy, and there has been a lack of understanding in how he enacts policies among the faithful and the world.
- His position on China and the interference of the Chinese government in Church business has not been strong, and his 2018 Vatican-China agreement drew much criticism from Chinese Catholics such as Cardinal Joseph Zen and other international political figures.
- The Synod on Synodality caused great confusion among the faithful when Pope Francis called for the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in 2020. Few people knew what it meant, especially in relation to the ordinary people in the pews. As dioceses began hosting listening sessions and opening dialogue in advance of the 2023 meeting of bishops, understanding began to grow. The official documents from the synod came out in 2024, and while widespread changes that some hoped to see did not come about, potential reforms could impact future governance of the Church. The main takeaway for most people, however, was the Church’s openness to listening to their thoughts and opinions.
- Pope Francis’ Traditionis custodes devastated and alienated many Catholics who attended the Traditional Latin Mass, as this directive restricted its use in dioceses throughout the world. Several cardinals and bishops criticized the directive, calling it “unnecessary and needlessly harsh,” according to the National Catholic Register.
I remember seeing him in St. Peter’s Square in September of 2022 for his weekly general audience. Driving around the square, he seemed cheerful and happy, but when he moved from the Popemobile to the wheelchair he used at that time, he clearly struggled. His knees were bad, and even then, his health seemed fragile. But he was still Papa, and those gathered were excited to see him and hear his messages to the world that day.
We join Catholics and people of many faiths in mourning the loss of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and praying for wisdom as a new pope is elected.
Today at last, the singing of the “alleluia” is heard once more in the Church, passing from mouth to mouth, from heart to heart, and this makes the people of God throughout the world shed tears of joy.
Final Message Of Pope Francis | Easter 2025
From the empty tomb in Jerusalem, we hear unexpected good news: Jesus, who was crucified, “is not here, he has risen” (Lk 24:5). Jesus is not in the tomb, he is alive!
Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness and truth over falsehood. Forgiveness has triumphed over revenge. Evil has not disappeared from history; it will remain until the end, but it no longer has the upper hand; it no longer has power over those who accept the grace of this day.
Sisters and brothers, especially those of you experiencing pain and sorrow, your silent cry has been heard and your tears have been counted; not one of them has been lost! In the passion and death of Jesus, God has taken upon himself all the evil in this world and in his infinite mercy has defeated it. He has uprooted the diabolical pride that poisons the human heart and wreaks violence and corruption on every side. The Lamb of God is victorious! That is why, today, we can joyfully cry out: “Christ, my hope, has risen!” (Easter Sequence).
The resurrection of Jesus is indeed the basis of our hope. For in the light of this event, hope is no longer an illusion. Thanks to Christ — crucified and risen from the dead — hope does not disappoint! Spes non confundit! (cf. Rom 5:5). That hope is not an evasion, but a challenge; it does not delude, but empowers us.
All those who put their hope in God place their feeble hands in his strong and mighty hand; they let themselves be raised up and set out on a journey. Together with the risen Jesus, they become pilgrims of hope, witnesses of the victory of love and of the disarmed power of Life.
Christ is risen! These words capture the whole meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life. Easter is the celebration of life! God created us for life and wants the human family to rise again! In his eyes, every life is precious! The life of a child in the mother’s womb, as well as the lives of the elderly and the sick, who in more and more countries are looked upon as people to be discarded.
