Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Catholic church, died Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. He died after complications from a complex respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia, which had sent him to Rome‘s Gemelli Hospital for about two weeks beginning in mid-February. His death brings to an end a remarkable 12-year papacy that began with his election in such historic fashion in March 2013, after Pope Benedict XVI stepped down.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Pope Francis became the first Latin American pope, as well as the first Jesuit pope. He immediately made headlines for living in an inexpensive and transparent way, and this was consistent with his papacy.
The most sensational aspect of his papacy was his refusal of a salary, which he was entitled to collect. The pope typically gets a monthly allowance that was reportedly worth about $32,000 per month. Pope Francis opted out of this salary as soon as he was elected. According to some sources from within the Vatican, the cash may have been sent to various charitable foundations, placed into trust for future use or paid to the church‘s use.
The Vatican had previously confirmed in 2001 that even as a cardinal, Pope Francis never accepted money from the Church, reinforcing his lifelong commitment to simplicity. His tenure was also marked by efforts to reform Vatican finances, address clerical abuse, and advance interfaith dialogue.
Despite the personal modesty of its leader, the Catholic Church itself remains one of the wealthiest institutions globally, with extensive holdings in real estate, artworks, and financial investments. However, Francis consistently emphasised moral over material wealth, often urging the Church to focus on serving the poor and marginalised.
As tributes pour in from across the globe, Pope Francis is being remembered not just as a spiritual leader but as a man who walked humbly and practised what he preached.
