Who was Pope Francis? How Did a Radical Reformer Redefine the Papacy?

Pope Francis, 88, dies. The reformist, first Latin American pope championed the poor and migrants but faced conservative backlash. A humble yet divisive figure. Read more on Dynamite News

Vatican City: Pope Francis, the first pontiff from the Americas and the southern hemisphere, died on Monday at the age of 88. He was a champion of the poor and a disruptor of tradition. Although critics may disagree, he reshaped the Catholic Church with humility and bold reforms.

The Pope of People

Elected in 2013, Argentine-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio was eager to make his mark as the leader of the Catholic Church. He chose the name Francis, inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century saint who devoted himself to the poor by renouncing his wealth.

“I want a poor Church, for the poor,” he declared days after becoming pope. True to his word, he rejected sumptuous papal palaces, lived simply, and called strangers—including abuse survivors—on the phone.

Defender of the Outcasts

Francis made global headlines by washing prisoners’ feet, sheltering Syrian refugees, and slamming wealthy nations for ignoring migrants. He rebuked Donald Trump’s border wall as “un-Christian” and called mass deportations a “crisis.”

He pushed climate action, linking human greed to environmental ruin. His 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, influenced the Paris Climate Accord.

Controversial Reforms

Francis softened the Church’s tone on LGBTQ+ Catholics, famously saying, “Who am I to judge?” He allowed blessings for same-sex couples and let divorced Catholics receive communion.

But he refused female priests, angering liberals. Conservatives accused him of undermining doctrine. In 2017, four cardinals publicly defied him, claiming his reforms caused “confusion.”

Scandals and Unfinished Battles

He vowed to root out clergy sex abuse, meeting victims and mandating reporting. Yet survivors’ groups said the change was too slow. Critics argue the Church still shields predators.

Health Struggles

Years of ailments: colon surgery, lung infections, and wheelchair use fueled his retirement rumors. He dismissed them, insisting resignations shouldn’t be “normal.”

A Complicated Legacy

Born to Italian immigrants in Buenos Aires, Bergoglio worked in a factory before joining the priesthood. His early leadership was tainted by accusations—never proven—that he failed to protect Jesuits during Argentina’s dictatorship.

As pope, he redefined the papacy: approachable, blunt, and unafraid of debate. “From the moment I was elected, I felt profound peace,” he said in 2017. That peace, he insisted, never left him.