Pope Francis died: a life for peace and faith

Pope Francis died: a life for peace and faith

Buenos Aires, Argentinien - On April 21, 2025, Pope Francis, bourgeois Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died. The first Pope from America and the global south was elected Pope on March 13, 2013 and took the name Francis. His life and work were shaped by a deep commitment to preserving creation and peace in the world. Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936 and was the oldest of five children of Italian immigrants.

The life path of Jorge Mario Bergoglio began studying as a cheman technician. But the priestly profession captivated him, so that he entered the Novicode of Jesuit in 1958. His academic career led him through Chile and Argentina, where he was finally ordained a priest in 1969. In the following decades he held numerous significant positions within the church, including rector of the San Miguel Theological University and finally Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

Cardinal and Pope

In 2001 Bergoglio was appointed cardinal and played an important role in the conclave after the death of John Paul II. In 2013, the Catholic Church chose him as a Pope, which was considered a significant step in history because he was the first Jesuit and the first Pope from Latin America.

Francis lived a modest lifestyle, waived magnificent robes and worked in the guest house in Santa Marta in the Vatican. His commitment to an interreligious dialogue was far -reaching; He tried a harmonious relationship with Jews, Protestants and Muslims. Especially during his first visit to the Arabian Peninsula, he signed a joint explanation with the sheikh of the al-Azhar university, which is an important step for inter-religious peace.

challenges and criticism

his term, however, was not without challenges. Critics accuse him of having reacted quickly enough to allegations of abuse against high -ranking church representatives, such as the cardinals George Pell and Theodore McCarrick. While he repeatedly apologized for victims of abuse and promised an improvement in prevention measures, this area remained strongly controversial.

One of his central messages was the protection of the environment, which he addressed in his encyclical "Lauato Si". Francis vehemently spoke out against a capitalist exploitation logic and called for a way based on love and responsibility. In 2022, the Vatican also tried to mediate in the Ukrainian conflict, which underlined its willingness to promote peace.

In recent years, Francis suffered from various health problems. He was brought to the Gemelli Clinic in February 2025 due to a respiratory disease, where a mutual pneumonia was diagnosed. His death takes place after the traditional Easter blessing on St. Peter's Square, which increases the severity of its loss for the Catholic community worldwide.

his legacy will be shaped by his striving for mercy and his deep connection with people. In retrospect, he expressed the wish to be buried in Rome after his death in the Santa Maria Maggiore church. Pope Francis leaves a world that was sustainably influenced by his tireless efforts for justice, peace and dialogue between religions.