Description: Vatican City, April 21 (Reuters) Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, died on April 21, 2025 at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped the Church in both pastoral and political dimensions. From his earliest days as pope, Francis set a new tone for the Vatican. He abandoned many of the traditional trappings of papal opulence, preferring simplicity and direct engagement with the faithful. A champion of the poor, he advocated for a “Church as a field hospital,” close to the forgotten and the marginalised. His first papal trip to the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa underscored his commitment to human rights. When he was elected in 2013, he was the first Pope from the Americas. He was also the first pontiff to travel to several "world's peripheries," including Myanmar, South Sudan and Central African Republic. Francis was considered a "disruptor." He encouraged open debate within the Church, hosting synods that addressed controversial topics such as LGBTQ inclusion and the role of women in the Vatican hierarchies. His tenure, marked by inclusivity and reform, was also met with division. While many hailed his steps forward, others saw them as a break from tradition. “History will judge him as a divisive character," Catholic author Edward Pentin said, as Francis "alienated the conservatives," failing to unify the Church.
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00:00Francis really changed the church in a number of ways. I mean he's changed the
00:09whole style of being a Pope. He changed the priorities of the church in terms of
00:15its pastoral practice and its public policy. He opened up the church for more
00:21conversation and debate and discussion. These are all dramatic ways that he
00:28changed the church from what it was earlier. History will judge him as a
00:32divisive character, I think as a divisive Pope. He did very little to try to bring
00:38on board, in fact he kind of alienated the conservatives if you like, those who are
00:43trying to uphold and be faithful to apostolic tradition and divine
00:47revelation and I think his legacy unfortunately will be one of a lost
00:55opportunity to bring on board those who felt alienated, those who were trying to
01:01uphold the traditions of the church.
01:14Well I think Francis's legacy is that he's opened the door to many fundamental
01:20reforms to take place in the church. I like to think for Francis as the
01:25disruptor Pope. He came here as a real outsider having never studied or worked in
01:31Rome and he really shook things up with his approach.
02:01I think Pope Francis really wanted to have conversations about the future of the
02:27church. He hosted several what are called synods in Rome, big gatherings of bishops and
02:32other Catholic leaders often telling them to keep no topic off the table. He
02:36allowed those discussions to include controversial items such as ordaining
02:39women to the to the diaconate in the Catholic Church or better ministry to LGBTQ
02:44members, things that before Pope Francis were things you could not talk about in
02:48the global Catholic Church.
02:57you