Life and Legacy of Pope Francis: His Impact & The Steps After His Death
- Kaitlyn Knepper
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love. Be poor among the poor. We need to include the excluded and preach peace -- Pope Francis
Remembering Pope Francis
Pope Francis’ legacy is monumental for the Catholic church. His compassion and humility made him vastly adored, and now deeply mourned, by the more than a billion followers of Catholicism. Some people even say he is the most progressive pope that has ever been in charge of the church, breaking barriers with his teachings.
Pope Francis, formerly known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 17, 1936. He was ordained in 1969 to the Jesuit religious order and served as a priest until he became the bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992. He rose to archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was elevated to a cardinal by Pope St. John Paul II in 2001. On March 13, 2013 he was elected the 266th pope. He became the first Latin American pope, the first Jesuit pope, and the first pope to take St. Francis of Assisi’ name.
During his time serving the church, Pope Francis brought many religious conversations to the table that had not been entertained by authority before him. He elevated the issue of climate change, denounced capitalism, and was financially transparent within the Vatican. He had a strong emphasis on pastoral work and only appointed bishops and cardinals that had this experience serving the people. His humility shined as he publicly acknowledged his mistakes and refrained from the fancy vehicles that other pope’s drove around in. These aspects grew the peoples fondness of him because he was relatable. He acknowledged that he sins, he acknowledged his mistakes, he did not flaunt expensive belongings, and he used social media to spread the gospel.
While people criticize him for not making more progress in church policy, his progressive statements have made a significant impact on how open and accepting the church is. He encouraged people to be upfront about their disagreements with him in order to have productive conversations on the workings of the church. This was through the Synod on Synodality and was described as a “transformative” process for social issues that the church faces. He advocated for immigrants, acknowledged LGBT members of the church, and approved sacraments for divorced/remarried people. These steps were small but incredibly significant to evolving the church. Pope Francis will surely be remembered for his compassion, bravery, and commitment to his work.
What Happens Now?
Following the Pope’s death an official announcement must be made by the Cardinal Camerlengo. This is followed by a nine day mourning period, Novemdiales, where cardinals and Catholic citizens from around the world gather in the Vatican. During this mourning period they will meet as the General Congregation of Cardinals where papal candidates can campaign to be the next pope. The funeral must come within 4-6 days of the Pope’s death and consists of three stations: the preparation of the body, the viewing of the body, and the burial.
Pope Francis’ burial will look a little different than his predecessors. Before his passing, Pope Francis requested to lay rest in Rome’s Basilica of St. Maria Maggiore as opposed to St. Peter’s Basilica which is the traditional resting place. Pope Francis visited this church regularly, especially before and after he left Rome for trips, making it known as his favorite praying spot. It is also an ode to his devotion to Mother Mary and there is speculation that it gives recognition to his Latin America roots as well. It is often said that the church’s ceiling is made from gold brought to the New World by Christopher Columbus. Pope Francis asked that his tomb “be in the earth; simple, without particular decoration,” staying true to his humble self.
Around 15-20 days following the death of Pope Francis, the conclave will begin. All of the cardinals deemed eligible to vote will gather in the Sistine Chapel, doors sealed until white smoke escapes its chimneys. To have an eligible vote, cardinals must be younger than 80 years of age, excluding 117 of the 252 cardinals. The remaining 135 will deliberate until the vote reaches a two-thirds majority. After each vote, a smoke signal will be the sole communication to the public — black smoke if they have failed to reach a two-thirds majority and white smoke if a new pope is elected. Once this decision has been met it will be officially announced through the phrase, “Habemus papam,” which is latin for, “We have a pope.”
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