Pope Francis died at the age of 88 - Arte appreciates his legacy

Pope Francis died at the age of 88 - Arte appreciates his legacy

Vatikanstadt, Deutschland - On April 21, 2025, Pope Francis died at the age of 88. The Vatican confirmed the sad news in a video message. Francis, who has been in office since March 2013, was the first Pope from Latin America and had an important role in the modern history of the Catholic Church. He succeeded Pope Benedict XVI. on, who had resigned voluntarily.

In memory of the Pope, Arte published the documentary "Time turn in the Vatican? - Pope Francis and the future of the church". This documentation addresses the heritage of Francis and the challenges in front of which the Catholic Church faces in the future. Other documentaries that can be seen in Arte include "Vatican City. A touch of eternity" and "Death of Pope Francis: his fight against injustice".

a Pope of modesty and change

Franziskus, born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, campaigned for the arms and disadvantaged during his tenure. He was known for traveling on state visits to the small car and taking on everyday tasks himself, which underlined his focus on modesty and mercy. During his first trip as a Pope, his path led him to Lampedusa, where he addressed the topic of migration.

his encyclical "Laudato Si’ "brought environmental protection to the center of pontifical action and showed his concern about the social and economic challenges of today. Critics accused him of criticizing a "killing economy", and some conservative forces in the Catholic Church were skeptical about his reforms.

reforms and challenges

In recent years, Francis was faced with numerous challenges, including dealing with the abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. He introduced a zero tolerance policy and abolished the papal secret in child abuse. These measures were part of his comprehensive reforms, which also included the convening of synods in order to reconsider church power questions and the sexual morality.

An important event of the recent past was the world synod carried out in October 2024, which revealed conflicts between liberal and ultra -conservative forces. Francis offered the believers a platform to discuss the participation in the church and social issues, which could be a major challenge for his successor.

After his death, Francis expressed the desire not to be buried in the Vatican, but in the Pope Bazilica Santa Maria Maggiore. This once again shows his desire for a church that cannot be guided by Pomp and power.

In order to learn more about the legacy and the challenges that the Catholic Church faces, the documentation and programs are now on arte , while the reporting on his life and work on BR and ZDF .