Christians spiritual leader Pope Francis passes away

Vatican City: Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of Christians, has passed away.

According to the details, Pope Francis was ill for a long time and passed away at the age of 88.

The Vatican City announced on Monday that Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died.

The spiritual leader of Catholic Christians was 88 years old and suffered from various illnesses during his 12-year papacy.

Pope Francis had recovered from a long illness and was discharged from the hospital a few days ago. On Sunday, he also held meetings on the occasion of the Christian religious holiday of Easter.

Early life

Pope Francis, who became the head of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013, was previously the archbishop of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, and during this time, he was known throughout the continent for his simplicity, public life, and spirit of service. During his 15-year episcopal reign (1998-2013), he traveled on the underground train and buses to be closer to ordinary people and better understand their problems.

He lived in a modest apartment rather than in a luxurious residence and cooked his meals. This humility and simplicity continued even after he was elected Pope, and he maintained a simple lifestyle instead of adopting the traditional lavish lifestyle of the Vatican.

Journey from humility to greatness

One morning on March 11, 1958, Jorge Mario Bergoglio made a decision that changed the course of his entire life. On that day, he became a novice of the Jesuit Society. The Jesuits are an organization within the Catholic order that believes in spreading religion throughout the world through service to humanity.

The spirit of simplicity and service was evident in his personality from the beginning. His educational journey also continued over time. In 1963, he went to where he completed his studies in the humanities. When he returned to Argentina, he obtained a degree in philosophy from the Colegio de San José. This journey of knowledge further refined his ideas and provided him with the foundation to become an intellectual and a leader.

His knowledge, wisdom, and leadership skills were soon recognized. In 1973, he was elected provincial superior of the Jesuits in Argentina, a position he held for the next six years. His judgment and leadership established him as a strong and practical leader.

Highest position in church

In 1992, Pope John Paul II appointed Bergoglio as auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires. His deep insight into the administrative affairs of the church and his commitment to service were rapidly moving him forward.

On June 3, 1997, he was made coadjutor archbishop of Buenos Aires, meaning he became the expected successor to the original archbishop of that place. The day soon came when he was to assume full leadership of the church.

On February 28, 1998, after the death of Archbishop Quaracino, Bergoglio became Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Primate of Argentina, and Spiritual Director of the Eastern Rite. His position was now more extensive and influential than ever.

Teaching and studies

From 1964 to 1966, Jorge Mario Bergoglio taught literature and psychology in Santa Fe and Buenos Aires. Teaching was not just a profession for him, but a mission. He believed that the light of knowledge paved the way for true service. But his journey did not stop there.

In 1967, he returned to the Colegio de San José for higher education, where he received a degree in theology in 1970. His academic and spiritual development had now entered a new phase.

Religious ministry

On December 13, 1969, Archbishop Ramón José Castillo ordained Bergoglio as a priest. On that day, he pledged to dedicate his life to serving the poor, the needy, and the common people.

On February 21, 2001, Pope John Paul II elevated him to the rank of Cardinal. This was not only an honor for him, but also a great responsibility.

This was the journey that later led him to the position of the first Jesuit Pope in the entire world. His story is a shining example of humility, simplicity, and unwavering determination.

Journey to becoming a Pope

In 2005, Jorge Mario Bergoglio participated in the secret conclave of cardinals to elect Pope Benedict XVI. At the time, he was a leading candidate, but the majority chose Benedict XVI.

In February 2013, Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation from the papacy for health reasons, an unusual event in modern times. A new conclave was then called at the Vatican, where cardinals from around the world were to elect a new pope.

He also maintains ongoing dialogue with Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and representatives of other religions and urges cooperation for world peace.

Pope Francis also strongly condemned the incidents of desecration of the Quran in Sweden, calling it a hateful act in the name of ‘freedom of expression’.

In an interview published in the United Arab Emirates newspaper Al Ittihad, Pope Francis said: “Any book that is considered sacred should be respected by those who believe in it”.

Pope Francis said, “I was outraged and disgusted by these actions (of burning the Quran)”.

He added that freedom of expression should never be used as a means to humiliate others, and allowing this to happen is reprehensible and unacceptable.

On March 13, 2013, Bergoglio was elected Supreme Pontiff after several rounds of voting. He became the first Latin American, the first Jesuit, and the first non-European pope. He took the name Pope Francis, inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi, who was known for his simplicity and service to the poor.

Becoming Pope after his pontificate, he preferred to live in a simple apartment rather than the traditional Vatican residence and called for the church to be more involved in public and social service.

A champion of interfaith harmony

Pope Francis has been playing a prominent role in promoting interfaith harmony. Throughout his life, he has been emphasizing dialogue, tolerance, and the establishment of peace between different religions. Several important steps were taken during his papacy that are historic in terms of interfaith harmony.

In 2019, he signed the ‘Declaration of Human Fraternity’ with Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyib of Al-Azhar, which promotes peace and cooperation between Islam and Christianity.

In 2021, he traveled to Iraq and met with Ayatollah Sistani, one of the great leaders of the Shia community.