VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis, who died April 21 at the age of at age 88, gave new energy to millions of Catholics -- and caused concern for some -- as he transformed the image of the papacy into a pastoral ministry based on personal encounters and strong convictions about poverty, mission and dialogue.
His gestures -- from tenderly embracing the sick to repeatedly visiting prisoners -- touched millions of hearts. But controversy raged over his denunciations of the excesses of unbridled capitalism, his warnings about the human contributions to climate change and his insistence on accompanying, not judging, gay people.
U.S. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, announced that Pope Francis had died at 7:35 a.m.
"His whole life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and his church," Cardinal Farrell said in a video announcement broadcast from the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where Pope Francis lived.
Elected March 13, 2013, Pope Francis was the first pope in history to come from the Southern Hemisphere, the first non-European to be elected in almost 1,300 years and the first Jesuit to serve as successor to St. Peter.
Following in the footsteps of his predecessors, Pope Francis was an untiring voice for peace, urging an end to armed conflict, supporting dialogue and encouraging reconciliation.
His simple lifestyle, which included his decision not to live in the Apostolic Palace and his choice of riding around Rome in a small Fiat or Ford instead of a Mercedes sedan, sent a message of austerity to Vatican officials and clergy throughout the church.
Although he repeatedly said he did not like to travel, he made 47 foreign trips, taking his message of Gospel joy to North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital city, Dec. 17, 1936. He earned a chemical technician's diploma from his high school and entered the Jesuit novitiate in March 1958. He was ordained to the priesthood Dec. 13, 1969, and made his perpetual profession as a Jesuit in 1973.
Father Bergoglio was named an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires in May 1992, was appointed coadjutor archbishop five years later and became archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998; Pope John Paul II named him to the College of Cardinals in 2001.
Cardinal Bergoglio was a known and respected figure within the College of Cardinals, so much so that no one disputed a respected Italian journal's report that he received the second-highest number of votes on all four ballots cast in the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.
Eight years later, Pope Benedict retired. Cardinal Bergoglio was elected to succeed him and chose the name Francis to honor St. Francis of Assisi.
"Go out" was Pope Francis' constant plea to every Catholic, from curial cardinals to the people in the pews. More than once, he told people that while the Bible presents Jesus as knocking at the door of people's hearts to get in, today Jesus is knocking at the doors of parish churches trying to get out and among the people.
— Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service
A lasting legacy:
The Diocese of Charlotte prays:
- Two bishops and diocese unite in prayer for Pope Francis
- Words of prayer, comfort offered after news of pope’s death
- Bishop Martin, others reflect on the life and legacy of Pope Francis
What happens next:
- Prayer, pilgrims accompany pope's body to basilica
- Funeral for Pope Francis set for Saturday
- What happens next?
- Crowds gather to pray the rosary for repose of pope's soul
- In final testament, pope asks for simple burial, prayed for peace
Pope Francis’ legacy:
- Pope Francis: A pope of surprises to the very end
- The best of Francis: Five unforgettable moments
- Pope Francis dies during Jubilee, leaving Holy Door open in papal first
- Synods and synodality: Pope Francis' method and vision for the church
- Global pastor: In word and deed, pope preached mercy, outreach
- With pastor's touch, Pope Francis preached mercy, embraced 'peripheries'
- Documents: Pope wrote Curia reform, four encyclicals, six exhortations
- Pope dealt with breathing difficulty, abdominal surgery, mobility issues
- Pope's life, leadership, placed Latin America at center of the church
- While holding line on priesthood, Pope Francis promoted women's roles
- Pope Francis' was a pontificate of personal, practical ecumenism
- Pope Francis lived up to his namesake's love, care for creation
- Pope Francis remembered for lasting mark on church's marriage and family ministry
The world prays:
- 'Everyone was a child of God': Faithful recall Pope Francis' 2015 US visit
- White House, US political leaders react to death of Pope Francis
- US bishops honor Pope Francis' legacy in hours after his death
- Religious leaders remember Pope Francis as champion of dialogue
- Pope was a pastor first, which is lasting gift to church
- World leaders remember Pope Francis as an important international player