Pope Francis: A Final Blessing for Humanity

Pope Francis: A Final Blessing for Humanity

By Bing Jabadan  

April 23, 2025

On Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, Pope Francis delivered a heartfelt address to the world, despite facing serious respiratory challenges.

In a moment that captured the essence of his life and mission, he offered a final blessing that touched the souls of billions of Catholics across the globe.

The silence that enveloped his words—echoing themes of grace, resurrection, and the struggles of resentment—served as a powerful reflection of our contemporary reality.

A Courageous Farewell

Just a day before his death, Pope Francis appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, embodying both vulnerability and resilience.

Although he was unable to read his Urbi et Orbi message, he insisted on standing before the faithful, extending his hands in blessing to children and exuding joy.

“Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!” he declared. “We are all children of God.”

His poignant message, delivered through a representative, called for peace in conflict-torn areas such as Gaza, Ukraine, Myanmar, and Congo.

He advocated for humanitarian aid over military action, compassion over cruelty, and urged the world to embrace migrants and those in need.

He passed away the following day.

The moment exemplifies true courage and faith, serving as a testament to the essence of a final sermon—selflessness, humanity, and hope.

A Legacy of Compassion and Leadership

Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; December 17, 1936 – April 21, 2025) led the Catholic Church and served as the sovereign of Vatican City from 2013 until his death in 2025.

He was notably the first pope from the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order), the first of Latin American descent, and the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, marking a significant evolution in the history of the papacy.

Originating from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio felt a calling to join the Jesuits in 1958 after recovering from a serious illness.

He was ordained as a priest in 1969 and served as the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina from 1973 to 1979.

In 1998, he became the archbishop of Buenos Aires and was elevated to cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.

Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on Feb. 28, 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on March 13. He chose the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Throughout his papacy, Francis was recognized for his humility, emphasis on divine mercy, global outreach, compassion for the marginalized, and commitment to fostering interfaith dialogue.

He adopted a less formal approach to the papacy, opting to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than the traditional papal apartments.

Francis promoted inclusivity by making women full members of dicasteries in the Roman Curia and advocated a more compassionate approach toward LGBTQ individuals.

He emphasized that while same-sex unions could not receive blessings in a liturgical context, LGBTQ persons themselves could be blessed.

In a notable exchange during a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Rome in July 2013, Francis was asked about the existence of a “gay lobby” at the Vatican.

“If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will,” he responded, “who am I to judge? They shouldn’t be marginalized.”

This statement reverberated throughout the church and beyond. Catholic conservatives, accustomed to centuries of papal judgments on various issues, were taken aback, with many attempting to downplay the remarks as not indicative of a shift in Catholic doctrine.

Pope Francis’ impact on the LGBTQ community has been complex yet undeniable.

He conveyed to a gay man in 2018, “God made you like this and he loves you,” and two years later, he endorsed legal protections for same-sex couples while criticizing laws that criminalized homosexuality.

He urged Catholic bishops to engage in a “process of conversion” to respond with “tenderness, please, as God has, for each one of us.”

“Being homosexual is not a crime,” he stated, although he maintained that sex outside of marriage is a sin. “It’s not a crime,” he reiterated. “Yes, but it’s a sin. Fine, but first let’s distinguish between a sin and a crime.”

“We are all children of God,” Francis expressed in a 2023 interview, “and God loves us for who we are and for the strength that each of us fights for our dignity.”

Pope Francis’ nuanced approach toward the LGBTQ community has drawn both praise and criticism.

While some advocates argue he hasn’t gone far enough, his actions have indicated a gradual shift within the Church.

On Oct. 21, 2023, he signed a document allowing transgender individuals to be baptized and serve as godparents.

Two months later, in a Vatican document titled *Fidus Supplicans*, he approved blessings for same-sex couples, provided the rite did not resemble marriage.

“For those seeking a blessing should not be required to have prior moral perfection,” the document stated. “There is no intention to legitimize anything, but rather to open one’s life to God, to ask for His help to live better, and to invoke the Holy Spirit so that the values of the Gospel may be lived with greater faithfulness.”

A vocal critic of economic inequality, consumerism, and environmental degradation, Francis prioritized climate action during his papacy.

He deemed the death penalty unacceptable under any circumstances and committed the Church to its global abolition.

In international relations, he denounced the rise of right-wing populism, advocated for the decriminalization of homosexuality, and played a crucial role in restoring diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba.

He negotiated a significant agreement with China on the appointment of bishops and supported refugee rights.

His efforts included promoting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, signing the Vatican’s first treaty with the State of Palestine, and condemning military actions in Gaza while calling for investigations into potential war crimes.

He viewed the protection of migrants as a “duty of civilization” and criticized anti-immigration policies, including those of US President Donald Trump.

In 2022, he expressed remorse for the Church’s historical role in the cultural genocide of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Pope Francis convened the Synod on Synodality, regarded as a defining moment of his papacy and one of the most significant events in the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council.

The pontiff passed away at the age of 88 on April 21, 2025, Easter Monday, following a stroke that led to irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.

His last public appearance on Easter Sunday will forever remain etched in the hearts of those he inspired.