Read Time: 4 min 33 sec | Reading Level: 7th Grade

WORLD NEWS

The Life and Legacy of Pope Francis

The 266th pope died early Easter Monday after suffering a stroke and heart failure. Pope Francis had been home for about a month after a five-week hospitalization for double pneumonia. He was 88 years old.

Who was Pope Francis?
Born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, Pope Francis was the first pope from the Americas. He took over as head of the Roman Catholic Church after Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2013. 

Francis was known for his humility, favoring modesty over papal pomp. He championed justice for the poor and marginalized, took action against sexual abuse in the Church, and spoke out on issues like refugee migration, war, and climate change. 

Pope Francis sometimes drew criticism from conservative Catholics. He was considered one of the Church’s least traditional popes when it came to social issues. 

When is the funeral?
Pope Francis’s body was moved to St. Peter’s Basilica yesterday for public viewing. His days-long funeral will include a public Mass, set to begin on Saturday at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. Eastern). 

The Argentinian will then be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (see pictures). It’s a fifth-century church in Rome that Pope Francis often visited before and after he traveled.

How will a new pope be chosen? 
In May, about 135 leaders in the Catholic church (called “cardinals”) will meet to vote. It’s called a conclave, and it’s a secretive process at the Sistine Chapel (see pictures). Sealed inside, cardinals will vote again and again until a ⅔ majority agrees on a candidate. When they decide, they send up white smoke.

Technically, any male Catholic is eligible to be pope. But the current front-runners include cardinals from Italy, Hungary, Guinea, and the Philippines.

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CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
God, our Rock, be a fortress to us in moments of sadness and uncertainty. When unwelcome news shifts our footing and reminds us of our frailty, still our spinning souls and be with us. 

“I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies. The ropes of death were wrapped around me; the torrents of destruction terrified me… I called to the Lord in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.”
Psalm 18:1-6 (CSB) (read full passage)

What response to this story do I want to model for my children?
Choosing humility.

Pope Francis held one of the most powerful positions in the world, yet he was known for favoring more modest things: living in the papal guest house instead of the more ornate main residence, receiving visitors standing instead of seated on the papal throne, riding on the bus with other cardinals instead of taking the papal limo, and choosing simpler burial rites (like a less ornate casket). 

This posture reflects Jesus, who likewise shunned the glory to which he was entitled as the Son of God. He became a servant of even the lowliest people and gave himself willingly for a humiliating and painful death (Philippians 2:5-9). Crucified with him, believers imitate his humility and show our kids that any glory worth having comes from God, not people or things (Galatians 2:20; James 4:10).

What gospel lesson can be taught through this story?
In this Easter season, believers rejoice in the hope of resurrection. 

We celebrate not only that Jesus himself rose from the dead after humbly conquering death, but that all who love and trust in him will also be raised. That means death is not the end of the story for his followers—it’s just the beginning.

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 CSB).

• Think about the luxuries you enjoy—a decadent food, an expensive habit, a special privilege—and choose to forgo one for a week. Reflect on how the discipline challenges and changes you.

• Memorize James 4:10, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (CSB).

• Praise God in song together, celebrating the hope of resurrection! (Here are some TPO team favorites for inspiration: “Sunday Is Coming” by Phil Wickham, “Made Alive” by Citizens, “Glorious Day” by Passion, “Everything That Has Breath (Praise)” by Jesus Culture, “Forever and Ever Amen” by Maverick City, “Blown Away” by Hillsong, and “This Is Our Time” by Planetshakers).

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