Just a day after delighting crowds from the balcony of St. Peter’s, Pope Francis — the first Latin American pope and one of the most reform-minded leaders in the Church’s history — has died at 88. Many thought he was recovering from illness after his Easter Sunday appearance. So this morning’s announcement isn’t just somber, but shocking.
Francis reshaped the global Catholic conversation. Migrants, climate justice, and marginalized people were his passions. He welcomed conversations on same-sex blessings, challenged authoritarian leaders, and attempted to pull the Vatican into the 21st century—not without backlash.
