Cover Pope Francis attends an audience with President of Iraq Barham Ahmed Salih at the Apostolic Palace on November 24, 2018 in Vatican City, Vatican (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
Pope Francis attends an audience with President of Iraq Barham Ahmed Salih at the Apostolic Palace on November 24, 2018 in Vatican City, Vatican (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
1 / 1
After surprising the public last Easter Sunday, April 20, by briefly appearing at the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis finally succumbed to his weakening health a day later. His last appeal to the people: “Call a ceasefire [in Gaza], release the hostages, and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace.”
Cardinal Kevin Farrel, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced at 9.54am (GMT+2) the passing of Pope Francis. The Supreme Pontiff, residing at Casa Santa Maria, died at the age of 88, after slightly recovering from a five-week hospital stay for pneumonia. Following the doctors’ orders, he deferred most of his duties these past months, including not presiding over the Vatican’s Mass for Easter Sunday last April 20. However, he made a rare public appearance at the end of the event to deliver the twice-yearly blessing and message known as the Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world).
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7.35 (GMT+2) this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
Above In this undated collect photograph courtesy of the Jesuit General Curia in Rome, a young Jorge Mario Bergoglio poses. (Photo: Jesuit General Curia / Getty Images)
In this undated collect photograph courtesy of the Jesuit General Curia in Rome, a young Jorge Mario Bergoglio poses. (Photo: Jesuit General Curia / Getty Images)
1 / 1
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936, Pope Francis hailed from Buenos Aires as a son of Italian immigrants to Argentina. He entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1958 and became a priest in 1969 at the age of 22.
As Argentina faced a turbulent period in its history in the Seventies, Bergoglio followed suit as the Jesuits shifted their focus to serving the poor. It was in their superior general, Pedro Arrupe, that he found a mentor. From 1973 to 1979, Bergoglio served as superior of the Jesuit province of Argentina.
Because of criticisms towards his leadership style, particularly during the 1976 military coup, which led to the so-called Dirty War, Bergoglio was assigned to a Jesuit community in Córdoba, Argentina. There he learnt the importance of humility, and resorted to hearing confessions and praying. He continued living a simple lifestyle and was an outspoken advocate for the poor.
Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013, Bergoglio was elected as Pope—the first hailing from Latin America to do so—amidst the Catholic Church brimming with internal turmoil and facing intrigues about financial chicanery. We listed down some of the pivotal moments in Pope Francis’s term that shook the Catholic Church to the core.
Read more: Before the Papacy: Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, St John Paul II
Laudato si’
Above Laudato si’ cover (Photo: Courtesy of National Catholic Register)
Laudato si’ cover (Photo: Courtesy of National Catholic Register)
1 / 1
Pope Francis issued in May 2015 the influential document Laudato si’, which addressed the climate crisis and denounced wasteful consumption. This also strengthened the Catholic Church’s advocacy towards upholding the rights of Indigenous peoples, which extends to the continuity of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue.
Pope Francis makes a historic visit to Iraq
Above People celebrate and wave flags after the completion of a mass conducted by Pope Francis at the Franso Hariri Stadium on March 07, 2021 in Erbil, Iraq. Pope Francis arrived in Erbil, the final stop of his historic four-day visit, the first ever papal visit to Iraq (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
People celebrate and wave flags after the completion of a mass conducted by Pope Francis at the Franso Hariri Stadium on March 07, 2021 in Erbil, Iraq. Pope Francis arrived in Erbil, the final stop of his historic four-day visit, the first ever papal visit to Iraq (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
1 / 1
Pope Francis had significant meetings with various leaders of governments and other faiths, particularly visiting places torn by socio-political and religious conflicts. Two of which were Iraq and Mongolia, making him the first Pope to visit these countries.
Moreover, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill I and Pope Francis’ meeting in February 2016 marked the first time for the leaders of the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches to be together.
His other significant pastoral visits also include the Philippines in 2015, where he celebrated Mass with survivors of the 2013 typhoon Haiyan in Leyte, among other itineraries.
Read more: Pope Francis makes a historic visit to Iraq, the cradle of the Abrahamic religions
Public apologies to survivors of sexual abuse by the clergy and other radical efforts to change the Church
Above The Pope: Answers trailer
In July 2022, he made a “penitential pilgrimage” to Canada, where he met with survivors of the country’s religious-run residential schools, which had notorious records of physical and sexual abuses. He even joined a 2019 summit on paedophilia, sexual abuse, and homosexuality.
Since then, Pope Francis has been known for expressing his wisdom towards these matters and has called for bringing the abusers to justice. In 2023, Hulu and Disney Plus released the documentary The Pope: Answers, where Pope Francis had an honest conversation with ten Spanish-speaking young people from various cultural and gender backgrounds to talk about pressing issues like feminism, the role of women in the Church, reproductive rights, loss of faith, the migration crisis, LGBTQIA+ rights, abuse within the Church, racism, and mental health.
One of the most recent groundbreaking acts of Pope Francis was his formal approval of allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples. Though not to be confused with the ritual of marriage, the said blessing sparked criticisms from various fronts.
Read more: 10 Critical films that tackle crises on faith and the Catholic Church
Pope’s special Urbi et Orbi during the COVID-19 pandemic
Pope Francis prays on the sagrato of St. Peter's Square to deliver a special Urbi et Orbi Blessing to the world, on March 27, 2020 in Vatican City, Vatican (Photo by Vatican Pool - Corbis/Getty Images)
1 / 2
One of the most iconic photographs taken of Pope Francis was when he delivered an extraordinary blessing of Urbi et Orbi from the steps of St Peter’s Basilica on March 27. Though the blessing was reserved for Christmas Day and Easter Sunday, the Supreme Pontiff delivered it while the rest of the world had shut its doors due to the wrath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alone and rain-soaked in the usually jampacked St Peter’s Square, he held high the Blessed Sacrament for adoration and imparted his Apostolic Blessing, offering everyone the opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence.
Read more: The Catholic Church and social media during the Lenten season and COVID-19 pandemic
Pope Francis requested that the funeral rites be simplified
Above Pope Francis attends an audience with President of Iraq Barham Ahmed Salih at the Apostolic Palace on November 24, 2018 in Vatican City, Vatican (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
Pope Francis attends an audience with President of Iraq Barham Ahmed Salih at the Apostolic Palace on November 24, 2018 in Vatican City, Vatican (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
1 / 1
Having lived a life well-lived, Pope Francis will always be remembered as the Pope who made the Catholic Church strip its pomp and grandeur to tread the 21st century with humility and genuine concern for others.
In April 2024, he approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, re-focusing the Supreme Pontiff as a pastor and disciple of Christ and not as a globally powerful person.
“The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis introduces several new elements, including how the Pope’s mortal remains are to be handled after death,” Devin Watkins of Vatican News reported. “The ascertainment of death takes place in the chapel, rather than in the room where he died, and his body is immediately placed inside the coffin.”
NOW READ
Fast Facts: Cardinal Chito Tagle
500 years of Christianity in the Philippines: The influence of Catholicism on Philippine art
Holy Week 2025: Here are 5 churches and sanctuaries that tell a story
About
Before assuming the Art and Culture Editor position, Franz has always had a penchant for visual and performing arts. He is passionate about exploring and writing about the local cultural scene and rediscovering the country’s storied past and rich heritage. Besides working on this luxury lifestyle magazine, Franz is an avid book reader, local traveller, museum-goer, chorister, and community theatre playwright.
Work
Franz earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas. He writes about local visual and performing artists and their craft; drinks wines, liquors, and spirits and talks about the creativity of their respective winemakers and master blenders; tries to learn more about business and investments; respects the tradition and artistry that go behind the making of watches and jewellery; and appreciates the genius of architecture and creative design.
As head of Tatler Philippines’ pool of writers, he helps them bring impactful and socially relevant stories to light.
For any leads, you may reach him through @franzsorillaiv on Instagram or franz@tatlerphilippines.com via email.
