As the world awaits his funeral, it is time for the Catholic world to reflect on his legacy
The death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday marked the end of an era in the Roman Catholic Church, one shaped by humility, joy, and profound efforts to bridge divides within the Church and beyond. As his body now lies in state in the grand sanctuary of St Peter’s Basilica, a sacred calm has descended over Vatican City — a moment not just of mourning, but of gratitude. From the moment of his election in 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to hold the papacy, signalled a change in tone and style. Eschewing the traditional papal apartment, he chose instead to live in the modest Casa Santa Marta, a Vatican guesthouse.
His decision was more than symbolic — it reflected his core message: that the Church should be close to the people, particularly the poor and marginalised. Pope Francis was a pope of paradoxes: deeply traditional in doctrine, yet boldly progressive in tone. He upheld the tenets of Catholic teaching while urging a shift in how they are communicated and lived. His papacy was not defined by rigid dogma but by mercy, dialogue, and pastoral care. He asked Catholics to be a “field hospital†for a wounded world.
Central to Francis’ leadership was his theology of joy. He often warned against a Christianity devoid of joy — likening such faith to being “pickled in vinegar.†This joy was not naïve optimism but a resilient faith rooted in love and the presence of God amid human suffering. He brought this spirit to bear on some of the most contentious issues facing the Church. Whether addressing climate change, global poverty, refugee crises, or the plight of the LGBTQ+ community, Francis consistently emphasised compassion over condemnation. His encyclical Laudato Si’ marked a historic moment in linking Catholic teaching with environmental stewardship, while his overtures toward greater inclusion of LGBTQ+ Catholics signalled a departure from past approaches marked by silence or rejection.
As thousands queue to bid farewell in person, and millions more watch the funeral unfold across screens worldwide, the atmosphere in Rome is less one of despair and more of sacred remembrance. In the words of one Vatican observer, it is as if a beloved elder has finished their life’s journey — leaving behind not just grief, but gratitude. The city has responded with reverence.
Images of the Pope flash across digital billboards with a simple message: “Grazie.†His final resting place, Santa Maria Maggiore — a church he visited before and after nearly every papal journey — underscores his identity as a pilgrim pope, always walking alongside the faithful. The death of Pope Francis also opens a new chapter. Behind closed doors, the College of Cardinals has begun its quiet conversations about the future of the Church.
As tradition dictates, white smoke will soon signal their decision to the world. But even as attention turns to the question of succession, the legacy of Pope Francis will remain etched into the conscience of the Church. He has set a precedent not easily ignored: that the papacy is not about power, but service; not about separation from the world, but deep engagement with it. For Catholics around the globe, his death is not just a loss — it is a call to carry forward the values he championed: humility, mercy, joy, and justice. Pope Francis changed the papacy. Now, the Church must discern how to build on what he began. Pope Francis leaves behind a Church forever marked by his humility, compassion, and unwavering call to joy. His papacy re-centred the mission of the Catholic Church on mercy, inclusion, and care for the vulnerable, urging believers to live their faith in action, not just words.
As the world bids farewell, his legacy offers both comfort and challenge, a reminder that faith must engage the realities of the world with love.
The conclave will choose his successor, but his influence will endure, not only in Church doctrine but in the hearts of millions who found hope and dignity through his leadership.
