Pope Francis Dies at 88 – A Symbol of Peace and Simplicity

Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics and the head of the Vatican City State, has passed away at the age of 88. His death marks the end of a significant chapter in the modern history of the Catholic Church.

Elected on March 13, 2013, as the 266th pope, Pope Francis inherited a church shaken by child abuse scandals and internal conflicts within the Vatican bureaucracy. He was entrusted with the mission to bring reform, transparency, and renewed discipline to the Church.

Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis often found himself balancing between conservative backlash and progressive expectations. Critics accused him of moving away from traditional values, while others believed he did not go far enough in transforming the centuries-old institution.