Pope Francis Dies at 88

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff of the Catholic Church who emphasized love and mercy in an increasingly fractured and fractious world, died on Monday morning at age 88.

The announcement of his death by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, did not specify a cause of death. Francis had been admitted to a hospital on February 14 for a respiratory crisis that later developed into double pneumonia, ultimately spending 38 days there, according to the Associated Press. He suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of a lung removed as a younger man.

Born in Argentina as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Francis was elected to the papacy in 2013 after the surprise resignation of Benedict XVI. Breaking from his predecessor’s often conservative theology, Francis brought a humble style to the role while preaching social tolerance and urging the world to care for immigrants, the poor and the environment.

During his tenure, Francis expanded the role of women within the church and advocated for greater inclusion and acceptance of gay Christians, while also supporting public safety measures during the pandemic, including social distancing and vaccination.

His maintenance of the church’s policy opposing abortion was one of only a few policies he shared in common with conservative Republicans in the U.S., who often have used their faith to justify policies that otherwise ran counter to Francis’s teachings, such as mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and opposition to vaccination requirements.

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who has been staunchly opposed to abortion access in his state and the U.S. as a whole, referenced that topic in a prepared statement on Monday regarding Francis’s death.

“Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis led with a quiet strength and a servant’s heart, reminding us of the value of human dignity,” Abbott wrote. “He was a bold and unwavering voice in defense of life, championing the unborn, the vulnerable, and the marginalized with conviction and compassion. Our hearts go out to all who join us in mourning his death and remembering the impact his teachings had upon their lives.”

Texas had about 5.9 million Catholics in 2020, according to polling by the U.S. Religion Census. Worldwide, there are about 1.3 billion practicing Catholics.

Francis’s death triggers the process by which eligible cardinals will choose a new pope in a secret election called “the Conclave,” a process depicted in an Oscar-winning film last year.