By Ivan Kesic
The Vatican announced that the pontiff died at the age of 88, following a prolonged struggle with health issues. In recent years, he mostly relied on a wheelchair or cane for mobility.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, stood in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel on Monday, where the deceased Pope lived, and announced that he died at 7:35 a.m. local time.
"He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized," Farrell stated.
His death came just one day after he made a brief appearance before thousands of Catholic pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for Easter Sunday.
Pope Francis was the first Latin American pontiff who worked hard to reform the Church.
Who was Pope Francis?
Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was one of five children in a family of Italian descent.
He graduated as a chemical technician before choosing the path of the priesthood, entering the Diocesan Seminary of Villa Devoto in his hometown.
In 1958, he entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus, completed his studies in the humanities in Chile, and returned to Argentina in 1963 to graduate from the Colegio de San José in San Miguel.
From 1964 to 1965, he taught literature and psychology in Santa Fé, and in 1966, he continued teaching the same subjects in Buenos Aires. A year later, he began studying theology and earned a degree from the Colegio de San José in 1970.
Bergoglio was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1969 and steadily rose through the ranks, becoming Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992, Archbishop in 1998, and a cardinal in 2001, appointed by Pope John Paul II.
Known for his humility, advocacy for social justice, and commitment to a simple lifestyle, Bergoglio gained recognition as a pastoral leader devoted to the poor, though his role during Argentina’s Dirty War (1976–1983) drew criticism.
How did Bergoglio become Pope Francis?
On February 11, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation, effective February 28, 2013, citing declining health. It marked the first papal resignation in nearly 600 years, since Gregory XII in 1415, creating an unprecedented situation for the Catholic Church.
Benedict’s resignation necessitated a conclave to elect a new pope. The conclave began on March 12, 2013, after cardinals gathered in Rome for pre-conclave discussions, known as congregations.
The conclave, governed by the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, required cardinals under the age of 80 to convene in the Sistine Chapel to cast their votes. A total of 115 cardinals participated, with a two-thirds majority needed to elect the new pope.
Bergoglio was a familiar figure from the 2005 conclave, reportedly the runner-up to Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI). His humility, reform-minded approach, and non-European background appealed to cardinals seeking a fresh perspective amid mounting Church scandals.
On March 13, 2013, following the conclave, Bergoglio was elected pope. White smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney signaled the successful election.
He chose the name Francis, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, symbolizing poverty, peace, and reform. It was the first time a pope had taken this name, and he became the first Jesuit pope in history.
How were his relations with Iran?
Pope Francis maintained diplomatic and interfaith relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, focusing on dialogue, peace, and addressing conflicts in the West Asian region.
In January 2016, the pontiff held a 40-minute private audience with former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the first such meeting since 1999, when Mohammad Khatami met Pope John Paul II.
He emphasized Iran’s crucial role in promoting political solutions to regional conflicts, countering terrorism, and curbing arms trafficking, which was a priority for Francis, who consistently condemned the arms trade as a root cause of regional instability.
Both leaders underscored shared spiritual values and the need for religious communities to champion reconciliation, tolerance, and peace in the world.
Rouhani presented Francis with a handmade rug from Qom and a book of Persian miniatures, while Francis offered a medallion of St. Martin, symbolizing fraternity, and an English copy of his encyclical Laudato Si’.
In May 2022, senior cleric Ayatollah Alireza Arafi met Pope Francis and senior Vatican prelates, emphasizing the importance of unity among divine faiths and urging the Catholic Church to take a stand against oppression, including in Palestine.
In November 2023, Pope Francis spoke by phone with the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi, who expressed gratitude for the Pope’s calls for a ceasefire in Gaza following the Israeli onslaught.
A month later, Francis welcomed Iran’s new ambassador to the Holy See, who presented a painting of the Last Supper, signaling Iran’s familiarity with and respect for Christian culture.
In November of the same year, President Masoud Pezeshkian sent a message to Pope Francis, delivered by an Iranian delegation attending a Vatican religious dialogue event, urging the Pope to influence Christian governments to halt the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza.
What were Pope Francis' views on Gaza?
Pope Francis had been a vocal critic of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza and repeatedly condemned Zionist crimes against civilians, women, and children, while consistently urging a ceasefire.
He said the killing of Palestinian children by Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip is “cruelty, not war,” and described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “extremely grave” in his Christmas message.
Just a day before his death, he appeared on Easter Sunday from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica before thousands of Catholic pilgrims, once again calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
In his address, he expressed his deep solidarity with the suffering of the Palestinian people and appealed for urgent humanitarian aid to reach the starving population in Gaza.
(The article was originally published on Press TV Website)