Introduction
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, served as the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church from March 13, 2013, until his death on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. As the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope, and the first from the Global South, his papacy was historic from the outset. Known as the “People’s Pope,” Francis sought to steer the Catholic Church toward mercy, inclusivity, and social justice while navigating the delicate balance of maintaining Catholic orthodoxy and continuity. His 12-year tenure was marked by transformative reforms, bold challenges to traditional structures, and a pastoral approach that reshaped the Church’s global image. This article explores the multifaceted legacy of Pope Francis, focusing on his impacts, the challenges he faced, and his commitment to preserving Catholic doctrine amidst a rapidly changing world.
A Papacy of Firsts: Redefining the Papal Image
From the moment he stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis signaled a departure from convention. Eschewing the ornate trappings of the papacy, he chose a simple white cassock, a modest iron cross, and opted to reside in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta guesthouse rather than the opulent Apostolic Palace. His decision to take the name Francis, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, underscored his commitment to humility, poverty, and peace. These symbolic gestures set the tone for a papacy that prioritized accessibility and relatability.
Francis was a master of public engagement, often described as a “digital pope” for his embrace of social media. With over 53 million followers across multiple X accounts and 10 million on Instagram, he used platforms like Facebook Live to spread the Gospel, earning the moniker of an “internet rock star.” His candid, folksy style—whether blessing crowds from a Fiat or making impromptu trips to Rome’s shops—captivated global audiences and made the papacy feel more human. This approach not only broadened the Church’s appeal but also challenged the hierarchical distance that had characterized previous pontificates.
Championing the Marginalized: Social Justice and Mercy
Pope Francis’s legacy is perhaps most defined by his relentless advocacy for the poor, migrants, and marginalized. Drawing on his Jesuit roots and the teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola, he emphasized care for the individual as a core Christian duty. His 2013 call for a “poor Church for the poor” became a leitmotif of his papacy, reflected in his actions and teachings. He denounced unregulated capitalism, criticized affluent lifestyles, and urged Catholics to see the “human and divine face of Jesus Christ” in the disenfranchised.
His 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, was a landmark document that positioned the Catholic Church as a leading voice on environmental justice. Describing climate change as a threat to life on Earth, Francis called for reduced carbon emissions and sustainable living, earning praise from activists like Greta Thunberg. His commitment to interreligious dialogue further amplified his global influence. In 2014, he brought together Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to pray for peace, and in 2021, he met with Iraq’s Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani to foster Muslim-Christian brotherhood. These efforts underscored his vision of a Church as a “field hospital” for a wounded world.
Francis also softened the Church’s tone on social issues. His famous 2013 remark, “Who am I to judge?” in response to questions about gay priests, marked a shift toward compassion over condemnation. In December 2023, he approved Vatican policy allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, a move that sparked both hope among progressives and backlash from conservatives. While he upheld traditional teachings—opposing gay marriage, abortion, and women’s ordination—he emphasized pastoral care over doctrinal rigidity, inviting “imperfect Catholics” to the Church’s embrace.
Structural Reforms: Empowering the Laity and Women
Francis’s papacy was characterized by significant institutional reforms aimed at modernizing the Vatican and decentralizing its authority. He tackled financial corruption by reforming the Vatican Bank, ensuring that “mafia money” could no longer flow through its accounts. His efforts to combat clericalism—a top-down, elitist mindset among clergy—were equally bold. He empowered the laity, asking whether the Church supported their discernment and mission without “infantilizing” them.
One of his most groundbreaking moves was increasing the visibility and influence of women in the Church. In 2016, Barbara Jatta became the first woman to direct the Vatican Museums. In 2021, Sister Nathalie Becquart gained voting rights in the Synod of Bishops, and Sister Raffaella Petrini was appointed secretary general of the Vatican City State, later promoted to president. While Francis maintained that women could not be ordained as priests or deacons, he initiated discussions on women’s roles, including the possibility of female deacons, leaving the question “open” in 2024. These steps, though incremental, marked a tectonic shift in a historically male-dominated institution.
Francis also reshaped the College of Cardinals, appointing 110 of the 138 voting members by 2025, many from underrepresented regions like Tonga, Haiti, and Mongolia. This diversification shifted the Church’s center of gravity toward the Global South, where Catholicism is growing rapidly. His selections prioritized diversity and pastoral alignment with his vision, though some critics argued he favored like-minded cardinals, potentially skewing the next conclave.
Challenges: Navigating a Divided Church
Despite his global popularity, Francis faced fierce opposition within the Church, particularly from conservative factions. Traditionalists accused him of diluting doctrine, especially on issues like divorce and homosexuality. His 2016 document Amoris Laetitia, which allowed divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion under certain conditions, was a flashpoint. Critics, including Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, claimed it undermined sacramental integrity. Similarly, his 2021 restriction of the Traditional Latin Mass (Traditionis Custodes) and his approval of same-sex blessings (Fiducia Supplicans) drew accusations of betraying Catholic tradition.
The clergy sexual abuse crisis posed one of the greatest challenges to Francis’s papacy. While he issued significant revisions to Church law to address abuse and called it “our shame,” many victims and advocates felt he fell short. His initial defense of Chilean Bishop Juan Barros, accused of covering up abuse, led to public outcry and a rare papal apology in 2018. Critics argued that Francis failed to excommunicate abusers or fully reform the Church’s handling of such cases, leaving a stain on his legacy.
Francis’s political outspokenness also stirred controversy. He criticized U.S. policies on immigration and the death penalty, clashing with conservative American Catholics and politicians like Donald Trump. His reluctance to name Russia as the aggressor in the Ukraine conflict, citing the Vatican’s role as a mediator, disappointed some observers who saw it as a misstep. These tensions highlighted the polarized landscape Francis navigated, where his progressive leanings often alienated traditionalists while failing to fully satisfy reformists.
Maintaining Orthodoxy and Catholic Continuity
Despite his progressive reforms, Francis remained steadfast in upholding core Catholic teachings. He consistently opposed abortion, euthanasia, and gay marriage, affirming the Church’s stance on marriage as between a man and a woman. His rejection of women’s ordination, rooted in the Petrine theory, disappointed many, but he argued that the Church’s “female” nature could be expressed through leadership roles outside the priesthood. His only revision to the Catechism was to declare the death penalty “inadmissible,” aligning with his predecessors’ near-prohibition while advancing moral consistency.
Francis’s approach to doctrine was evolutionary rather than revolutionary. He argued that Catholic teaching could “progress and consolidate over time,” as he told PBS in 2023, rejecting the notion of doctrine as a “monolith.” This perspective allowed him to emphasize mercy and pastoral care without altering the letter of Church law. His encyclical Fratelli Tutti (2020) on universal fraternity and his ecumenical efforts—such as engaging with the Eastern Orthodox Church and non-Christian faiths—reflected a commitment to Catholic universality while fostering dialogue.
His focus on “spiritual ecumenism” prioritized practical unity—walking, praying, and working together—over theological disputes. This approach, while criticized by some as sidestepping doctrinal clarity, reinforced the Church’s mission as a global, inclusive institution. By appointing cardinals from diverse regions, Francis ensured that the Church’s future leadership would reflect its universal character, cementing a legacy of catholicity over Roman exclusivity.
The Global South Pivot: A Lasting Shift
Perhaps Francis’s most enduring legacy is his reorientation of the Catholic Church toward the Global South. As the first Latin American pope, he embodied a shift away from Europe, where Catholicism is declining, toward regions like sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, where it is thriving. His cardinal appointments and focus on non-European perspectives challenged the Church’s Eurocentric past, creating a more inclusive global Catholic culture. As historian Massimo Faggioli noted, this pivot is “impossible to undo,” ensuring that the Church’s future will reflect its diverse, growing constituencies.
Looking Ahead: The Next Conclave
Francis’s death on Easter Monday, 2025, marked the end of a transformative era. The upcoming conclave, dominated by his appointees, will determine whether his progressive vision endures. While his cardinals are diverse, they are not uniformly progressive, and the next pope could adopt a more conservative temperament. The secrecy of the conclave and the unpredictability of alliances among cardinals from varied regions add uncertainty to the outcome. Regardless, Francis’s reforms—his emphasis on mercy, social justice, and global inclusivity—have left an indelible mark on the Church.
Conclusion
Pope Francis’s legacy is one of paradox: a pope who challenged conventions while upholding orthodoxy, who embraced the marginalized yet disappointed some reformists, and who globalized the Church while navigating internal divisions. His papacy was a bridge between tradition and modernity, rooted in the Gospel’s call to serve the least among us. From Laudato Si’ to his outreach to the poor, from his digital savvy to his frugal lifestyle, Francis redefined what it means to be pope. As the Catholic Church mourns his passing, his vision of a merciful, inclusive, and socially engaged Church will continue to shape its path forward, ensuring that his influence endures for generations.