Conclusion
Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most influential religious leaders of the 21st century. His legacy is one of compassion, reform, and moral courage. In an age of polarization, he championed inclusion. In a time of crisis, he modeled simplicity and service. His papacy challenged the Church—and the world—to rediscover the Gospel’s radical call to love, justice, and mercy.
As the Church prepares to elect his successor, the question remains: will the next pope continue Francis’s legacy of reform and pastoral outreach, or will the pendulum swing back toward tradition? Regardless, Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s imprint on the Catholic Church and global conscience is indelible.
Francis’s last public appearance was at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Easter Sunday, 20 April 2025, where he gave his now-final Easter address where he called for a ceasefire in Gaza. He died at 07:35 local time (UTC+02:00) on Easter Monday, 21 April 2025, aged 88, in his residence in Domus Sanctae Marthae. The death was caused by a cerebral stroke, followed by “irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse”.His death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell on the Vatican’s TV channel and in a video statement.
The pope’s death begins a papal interregnum and a nine-day period of mourning known as the novemdiales (Latin for ‘nine days’). His funeral will take place on 26 April 2025.Cardinal-electors will arrive in Rome to attend the congregation of cardinals, which will decide the date and time of the conclave set to elect Francis’s successor.
Francis’s spiritual testament, dated 29 June 2022, repeated his wish to be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a desire he had already mentioned in a December 2024 interview. Specifically, he requested to be placed “in the burial niche in the side aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the Basilica.”His final remarks read as follows:
May the Lord grant a fitting reward to all those who have loved me and who continue to pray for me. The suffering that has marked the final part of my life, I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and for fraternity among peoples.