(Photo Credits: AM113  from Shutterstock)

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church and one of its most progressive voices in recent history, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed in a video statement released on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. His passing follows a recent battle with double pneumonia.

Pope Francis was hospitalized on February 14, 2025, after experiencing bronchitis and a slight fever, which soon developed into a serious case of double pneumonia. Over the following weeks, he endured multiple health setbacks, including kidney issues, anemia, and steroid-induced diabetes. By February 21, doctors declared him in critical but not imminently life-threatening condition. He faced respiratory crises requiring assisted breathing and multiple procedures to clear his lungs. On March 10, doctors said he was no longer in imminent danger, and by March 12, X-rays confirmed improvement. The Vatican released the first photo of his recovery on March 16, and on March 23, after five weeks of treatment, Pope Francis was discharged and returned to the Vatican to continue his convalescence.

The Argentine-born pontiff, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, made history in 2013 when he became the first Jesuit pope and the first pope from the Americas. But beyond his background, it was his compassionate, at times controversial, approach to social issues — particularly his unprecedented tone on LGBTQ+ inclusion — that defined much of his papacy.

In July 2013, just months into his role, Pope Francis uttered what would become one of the most quoted lines of his papacy. Speaking to journalists on a flight back from Brazil, he said:
“If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?”

This statement marked a sharp departure from the traditional rhetoric of the Church, sparking both praise and criticism. LGBTQ+ Catholics and allies saw it as a glimmer of long-hoped-for acceptance, while conservative factions within the Church viewed it as a risky softening of doctrine.

Later, in an October 2020 documentary titled Francesco, Pope Francis made headlines again for advocating legal protections for same-sex couples: “Homosexual people have a right to be in a family. They are children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it,” he said. “What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered.”

Although he never changed the Church’s official stance on same-sex marriage or the celibacy of priests, Pope Francis repeatedly called for mercy, inclusion, and dialogue over condemnation.

Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis emphasized the dignity of all people, often choosing compassion over dogma. His comments and pastoral tone helped many LGBTQ+ Catholics feel more seen within a Church that has often rejected them.

As the world mourns a spiritual leader who challenged centuries of tradition with humility and heart, LGBTQ+ Catholics remember a pope who — though imperfect — dared to open doors.

Rest in peace, Pope Francis!

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