Pope Francis Dies at 88: A Pontiff of Humility and Hope

VATICAN — Pope Francis passed away today, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. Born in Buenos Aires in 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio served for 12 years as the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, becoming the first Jesuit and the first Latin American to hold the papacy. His leadership was marked by a strong emphasis on humility, social justice, interfaith dialogue, and the inclusion of marginalized communities. Pope Francis lived simply, chose the Casa Santa Marta over the Apostolic Palace, and pushed for Church reforms. Even as his health declined in his final years, he remained deeply committed to his mission of compassion and peace. 

Among the many communities that held Pope Francis in high regard are the Eastern Catholic Churches such as the Syriac Catholic Church, the Syriac Maronite Church, and the Chaldean Catholic Church. While these churches are autocephalous — meaning they govern themselves and have their own patriarchs — they are in full communion with the Vatican and recognize the authority of the Pope as the highest ecclesiastical figure. These churches, have a strong presence in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria, embodying centuries of Christian tradition and identity in the Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia). Though distinct in their liturgy and hierarchy, their unity with Rome was reflected in their admiration and support for Pope Francis. 

In March 2021, Pope Francis made a historic visit to Iraq, becoming the first pontiff to do so. He visited Bagdede (Qaraqosh), Mosul, Arbca’ilo (Erbil) — the first two cities being deeply scarred by the violence of ISIS. In Bagdede, the Pope prayed in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, once desecrated and burned by the extremist Islamists, delivering a message of healing and encouragement to its Christian Syriac population. “We cannot imagine Iraq without Christians because they are an essential part of its identity,” he proclaimed. He urged Iraqi Christians to remain steadfast and to feel like “full citizens” in their homeland. 

In Mosul, surrounded by the rubble of churches destroyed by ISIS, Pope Francis stated, “Hope is more powerful than hatred, and peace more powerful than war.” He continued to advocate for peaceful coexistence, saying that “fraternity is stronger than fratricide.” At the Chaldean Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph in Baghdad, he offered a powerful reflection: “Love is our strength,” underscoring that even when it seems fragile, love can overcome all evil. His visit culminated with a grand Mass in Arbca’ilo (Erbil), attended by thousands, where he affirmed, “Iraq without Christians will not be Iraq,” reminding the world of the indispensable role Christians play in the country’s fabric. 

Pope Francis’s legacy will endure not only in the halls of the Vatican but also in the hearts of the faithful across Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia), where his words and presence brought hope, healing, and a renewed sense of belonging to communities long burdened by conflict.