The people’s Pope dies after giving the final blessing
Perhaps Pope Francis' subconscious mind knew that this past Easter Sunday (April 20, 2025), giving a blessing to all the Catholics at the end of the Mass, would be his last. Francis had been in poor health since last February. On Sunday, people had gathered since dawn in St Peter's Square at the Vatican. Sadly, Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta at 7:35am. Francis was 88. This was the first news that came to my newsfeed when I reached for my mobile phone on Monday morning after waking up. At the end of my morning prayer, I prayed for his soul to find eternal peace.
Francis' death brings an end to his 12 years as the head of the Catholic Church. From the balcony of the Vatican, Cardinal Giovanni Batista announced the news of the Pope's passing to thousands of mourners who were holding a vigil. Two black cloths were hung from the balcony of the Vatican to symbolise the mourning period for the passing of the pontiff. This tradition will remain in place for 15 days until the cardinals elect a new Pope.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Argentine-born Pope Francis was the first Pope in the Roman Catholic Church from the Americas. During his poor health in recent months, with repeated hospitalisations, he did not once consider retiring like his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. Though Pope Francis' papacy was not without controversy, his message had a profound impact on Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Francis was well loved; the world has lost a champion who fought for human dignity, and stood up for the rights of the marginalised and the disadvantaged.
At a time when we cannot explain the deaths and destruction of today in a natural way without causing dread and fear to a child, Pope Francis was a voice of assurance in a bleak world. In 2020, the iconic image of Pope Francis blessing the world with the Blessed Sacrament during the coronavirus pandemic, standing alone in an empty and rainy St Peter's Square, left an indelible impression. The image provided hope to millions of people around the world who were sequestered in their homes. Through it all, the Pope of the people remained fearless.
Francis did not mince words when calling on world leaders to stop genocide and killings. He asked them not to seek revenge out of hatred. His message to the world was simple: not to propagate violence in the name of religion.
The Pope was very vocal about protecting children's rights. He pleaded on behalf of the world's children who were victims of sexual abuse, conflict, displacement, and of a "throwaway culture." This past February, addressing world leaders in the Vatican, Francis said, "Nothing is worth more than the life of a child."
Francis was very persistent in emphasising the importance of acting against radicalism, because he knew that without it, the cancer would grow and its evil would spread around the continent. "Together," he said, "we must say no to hatred, to revenge and to violence, particularly that violence which is enacted in the name of a religion or of God himself, and God must never be used to justify hatred and violence."
The Pope always urged his followers to be conscious of the changes in the world. He deeply believed that the Catholic Church plays a positive role in shaping people's moral and spiritual development. He championed education, health, housing, and other related social and economic development. He regularly reminded everyone that young people are being radicalised in the name of religion to sow discord and extreme fear.
During his tenure, the Pope visited 67 countries. On average, he made four international trips each year. Everywhere he went, thousands waited behind the barricades to have a glance at the Pope. He spoke about the same theme that he had once raised in Kenya—development that benefits the poor—and urged Muslims and Christians to live in harmony. Francis frequently addressed the question of religiously inspired violence.
Violence worried Pope Francis. In 2015, right after the Paris attacks, Francis was on an African tour. He went to Kenya, Uganda, and the Central African Republic. The pontiff tackled issues ranging from Islamic extremism to climate change. The Pope's visit came at a time when the African countries were struggling on many fronts with few options. The visit changed all that, and the role of the Catholic Church increased dramatically in Africa. As the first non-European Pope in nearly 1,300 years, Francis gave appointments to many African cardinals. This gave legitimacy to this long-ignored continent.
In Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, Muslims and Christians had slaughtered each other for years. More than 400,000 people had been displaced. Both Islam and Christianity in Africa are expected to grow to twice their numbers by 2050. While in Bangui, the Pope made the riskiest venture when he went to a mosque. Before entering the mosque, the Pope took off his shoes according to custom. In that particular region, called PK-5, the Muslim minority had been isolated for months as a rival militia group stood guard. Because of the Pope's visit, the barricade was broken for about three hours. Standing in the mosque, the pontiff spoke of reconciliation across faiths and said, "Muslims and Christians are brothers and sisters."
The Pope lashed out at African nations' leaders for neglecting the poor. African leaders have colossal wealth, although it is concentrated in the hands of a few. He called the injustices against the poor "new forms of colonialism." The people's Pope was overwhelmed after seeing so much poverty and lamented that even God is not used to seeing so much suffering.
Geopolitically, Africa has remained a neglected continent. Pope Francis dubbed it a "continent of hope." Hundreds of volunteers gathered to sweep the litter-filled streets, put gravel on the mud road that led to the mosque in Bangui, and install new lights everywhere. With a visit from this iconic figure, Africa benefited through the visitors' expenditure and some small-scale infrastructure development.
After being ordained Pope, Francis made humility and helping the poor hallmarks of his papal tenure. He was a simple man. He refused to live in the luxurious papal apartment and opted for a two-room guesthouse inside the Vatican. He wore a simple white cassock with a papal belt around his waist. He had his papal ring made out of silver, as he did not want to use the elaborate one made of gold.
Pope Francis denounced violence in every form and shape. He spoke about Christians killing Muslims. He talked about the plight of Christians in the Middle East, and Africans being slaughtered by Muslim militants. He relentlessly spoke about the plight of the Palestinians. He pleaded with the Trump administration to stop its inhuman treatment of migrants when they were being deported.
Francis was known for pushing the boundaries of the Catholic Church. He openly discussed priests abusing altar boys in Catholic churches. He spoke against the exclusion of the vulnerable community from mainstream society.
Pope Francis ceaselessly fought for the humanity and dignity of marginalised people to be restored. His central message to the world was about hope, unity, and reconciliation. Pope Francis once said it is important that "we be seen as prophets of peace, peacemakers who invite others to live in peace, harmony and mutual respect." This could be his enduring legacy.
Zeenat Khan is a contributor to South Asia based journals. She also writes short stories and nonfiction.
Views expressed in this article are the author's own.
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