Pope Francis dead: A life in the service of the church ends tragic

Pope Francis dead: A life in the service of the church ends tragic

Vatikanstadt, Vatikanstadt - On April 21, 2025, the news of the death of Pope Francis was announced. The 88-year-old Pope died in a clinic in Rome on Easter Monday. His cause of death was pneumonia, which occurred after a 38-day hospital stay in the spring. According to a message from the Vatican, he returned to the father's house at 7:35 a.m. His last public appearance took place on Easter Sunday when he spoke his blessing Urbi et Orbi in front of tens of thousands of believers. At this point he already looked weakened.

Pope Francis, with a bourgeois name Jorge Mario Bergoglio, has been the head of the Catholic Church and Bishop of Rome since March 2013. He succeeded Benedict XVI. on, which died in 2022. Francis was the first non-European head of the Catholic Church for over 1,200 years and represented around 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. His life's work was dedicated to the service of the Lord and the Church, and his term in office lasted over a decade.

a turning point in church history

The importance of Pope Francis goes beyond his term. Jörg Ernesti, Professor of Middle and New Church History, refers to developments in the papacy since 1800. In his book "History of the Popes since 1800", he describes 16 popes and the changes that the papacy has experienced. The French Revolution in particular left a traumatic influence on the church. Ernesti realizes that Popes have increasingly positioned itself as neutral actors in international politics since then.

With the challenges of modern times, expectation grew to future popes. Ernesti expresses concerns about the high demands that are placed on the papacy. The type of today's Pope has changed; Charism and political weight are required. If you compare Pope Francis with his predecessors, he will be in his appearance with John XXIII. equated, however, the content of Paul VI. to. The question of synodality and strengthening the local churches could play a crucial role in the future.

heir and legacy

The legacy of Pope Francis is considered historical by many in the church. His life's work and his term of office have led the Catholic Church to a new era in which the teaching and principles of fundamental rights are becoming increasingly important. Ernesti explains that the teaching of many popes can be described as "halved modernity", which illustrates the challenge with which the church is faced in today's context.

In a world that is becoming increasingly complex, it will be necessary for the Catholic Church to develop further and respond to the needs of its believers. The high position of the papacy could also make ecumenical conversations more difficult, which is an additional challenge for upcoming popes.