When Pope Francis ended his day on Easter 2025, he might not have known it would be his last. But he was determined to make the day one where he mustered what energy he had to fulfill his ongoing mission. Though he wasn’t able to make a robust appearance, he was able to meet with Vice President JD Vance (who was gifted with three easter eggs), gently chiding him with words of sympathy for migrants. 

Many people are not aware that the Pope’s name at birth in Buenos Aires was Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.

 

On the day before he died, Francis used his Easter address to call out hostility toward immigrants. The address came just after Vance visited the Vatican on Easter Sunday. It might be considered the pontiff’s last call for compassion and inclusion.

 

Currently his body is lying in state for thousands to pass and leave their prayers. Then on Saturday, April 26th, the Vatican will hold his funeral. Soon after, the Church will begin the conclave to vote for a new Pope.With part of one lung removed at 21, the Pope spoke openly about his health struggles. During his final hospitalization in 2025, he refused special treatment. Weakness became a different kind of strength.

 

Instead of taking it easy and quietly recuperating in bed after his month-long hospital stay, Pope Francis was following his calling to the end. As Father Enzo, his friend and aide, said “He wanted to die on the battlefield, working until the end.”

 

Now that the “People’s Pope” — is as he was known — is gone, Francis’ legacy remains. The Argentinian established a paradox: the humbler he appeared personally, the more provocative were the changes he made to the institution of the Church that faced him.

 

Conservative cardinals published formal “dubia” (doubts) questioning his teachings. Some called him a heretic. Others said his informality undermined papal authority. But criticism revealed what threatened them: power sharing. The resistance was fierce.

 

The octogenarian once described the Church as a “field hospital after battle” rather than as a customs office. This metaphor highlighted his leadership philosophy: meet people in their pain; heal first, judge later. He went to the wounded rather than wait for them to go to him.

 

His leadership style was captured through a famous moment. When he visited America, Francis skipped a formal lunch with politicians to eat with homeless people instead. In New York, he walked with all kinds of people, blessing students and leaders alike. The message was clear that his leadership served those with the least power, not those with the most. And he expressed it the way he lived as well – he didn’t wear fancy clothes nor a gold cross. Nor did he attend ostentatious banquets.

 

In his final years, Francis faced criticism because he supported civil unions while maintaining traditional marriage doctrine. He promoted dialogue while making strong statements about the LGBTQ community. He advocated mercy while being stern with traditionalists, expressing sympathy for the many migrants fleeing desperate conditions in their home countries.

 

He was a strong advocate for reducing climate change while taking to task those who polluted. He appointed more women to senior Vatican roles and he reformed corrupt Vatican finances. He decentralized authority and, after some missteps, he seriously addressed the sex abuse scandals plaguing the clergy.

Francis focused on encounter over enforcement, compassion over condemnation and dialogue over dogma. His leadership through humility has its contradictions. 

 

When Francis died on April 21, 2025, he left a divided Church, but one with a model of transformed leadership. Traditional leadership projects strength. The pontiff displayed vulnerability. His legacy? Proving that washing feet is more powerful than wearing crowns.