Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, at age 88, and the Jesuit Conference joins people around the world in mourning. May he rest in the peace of Christ.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio entered the Society of Jesus on March 11, 1958, and was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969. As a Jesuit, he served as novice master, a theology professor and provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina (1973-1979).
He was named auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992 and archbishop in 1998. Pope Saint John Paul II elevated him to the College of Cardinals in 2001. On March 13, 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope, making him the first Jesuit pope and the first pope from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere. Read his full obituary at America magazine.
In a letter to Jesuits and friends on Pope Francis’ passing, Fr. Sean Carroll, SJ, provincial of Jesuits West, wrote, “Pope Francis will be remembered for so many beautiful moments, and we all have a favorite Francis saying — whether it is his description of the Church as a ‘field hospital’ or his five-word answer to a question about who we should love: ‘Who am I to judge?’ We are grateful for his groundbreaking encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’, and for the way he never tired of bringing Christ into the public square when it came to the dignity of migrants, the need for dialogue and peace in war-torn countries, the sanctity of life, and issues too countless to name, including a recent admonition about artificial intelligence.”
“I give thanks for the way he made us smile, the way he loved to laugh and for the joy reflected on his face when he was surrounded by a group of children,” wrote Fr. Carroll. “Perhaps, though, what is closest to my heart is something Pope Francis said early in his papacy: ‘I am a sinner, but I trust in the infinite mercy and patience of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ He later added, ‘The Church is not a community of perfect people, but of disciples on a journey, who follow the Lord because they know they are sinners and in need of his pardon.’”
Fr. Carroll concluded, “The earthly journey of the disciple who became the Vicar of Christ is now over, but we will never forget what he taught us about love and the mercy of the Risen Christ. In this jubilee year, we are missionaries of hope lifted by the example of Pope Francis.” Read Fr. Carroll’s letter.
