Okay so, omgâthis is like, super major news. Pope Francis, the actual first Latin American pope and the first Jesuit ever to hold the role (no big deal, right?), passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. And honestly? The world is kinda heartbroken.
He wasnât just any pope. He was the pope who totally flipped the scriptâlike, not in a chaotic way, but in a gentle, grandpa-who-cares kind of way. Think: less golden thrones, more hugs and sandals.
đ A Pope of Firsts (Seriously Iconic)
So, he became pope back in March 2013âyes, that long ago!âand literally everything about him broke tradition in the best way. He was from Buenos Aires (which was like, historic on its own), and he picked the name Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi. You know, the guy who was super into nature and helping the poor? Major hint there.
He didn’t move into the super-fancy papal apartments. Nope. He stayed in a guesthouse and drove around in a Ford Focus. A Ford Focus, babe.
đ âA Church for the Poorâ Vibes
This man had one mission: make the Church less judgy and way more compassionate. He was all about mercy over rules. He reached out to LGBTQ+ Catholics, told divorced people they still belong, and reminded priests (like, all the time) to stop acting like moral gatekeepers.
Of course, not everyone loved that. Some super traditional folks were like, âWhat is even happening?â But for a lot of Catholicsâand honestly, people outside the Church tooâhe was like, finally, a pope who gets it.
đą Saving the Planet Was Kinda His Thing
Remember Laudato Siâ? Yeah, that was his 2015 encyclicalâbasically a papal letter saying, âHey world, can we please stop wrecking the Earth?â He called out pollution, overconsumption, and climate denial like a total boss. And he made it crystal clear: protecting nature is totally a moral issue.
đ ď¸ Trying to Fix the Church (Bless His Heart)
He seriously tried to make the Vatican more transparent and less, um, shady. He pushed for reforms, brought in financial audits, and encouraged everyone to have more convos instead of just top-down orders. He almost let women become deacons (which wouldâve been groundbreaking), but didnât fully go there. So like, A for effort, but maybe a B+ on delivery.
đ A Papa to the People
He kissed babies, visited prisons, hugged refugees, and even washed the feet of Muslims and women on Holy Thursday. He wasnât trying to impress anyoneâhe just cared. Like, truly.
And while some insiders were definitely rolling their eyes, regular people? They adored him. Whether you were Catholic or not, you could tell he was the real deal.
đď¸ His Legacy? Compassion Over Condemnation
At the end of the day, Pope Francis wasnât about shaking fists or quoting rulesâhe was about love. Radical love. And while he didnât fix everything (because, duh, who could?), he made the Church feel more human.
The world just lost one of its kindest souls. But honestly? His message lives on. Be kind. Be brave. Be humble. And maybe skip the limoâwalk with the people instead.
đ Rest in peace, Papa Francisco. The worldâs a better place because you were in it. đ
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
