Pope Francis, First Latin American Pontiff, Dies at 88:

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, died on Monday, aged 88, as confirmed by the Vatican in a video statement.

Concerns on His Health Subsequently

The pope faced several health problems during the course of his 12-year-term papacy. Notably, he suffered from pneumonia and was hospitalized for five weeks. He was subsequently discharged on March 23.

Growing Up and His Vocation to The Priesthood

As the son of Italian immigrants, he was given out as Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He went to tech school and worked for a short time as a chemical technician before joining the Jesuit order in 1958.

At 21, he contracted pneumonia which led to him losing a lung. Although initial doubts about his priesthood—thanks to a chance meeting with a young woman—held a lot of weight, he continued his religious studies in Argentina, Spain, and Chile, ultimately becoming a Jesuit priest in 1969.

Advancement In The Catholic Ladder

In 1976, during the military dictatorship in Argentina, Francis became the head of the Jesuit order. The Vatican has always maintained that during this time, he didn’t remain silent hence, he did speak up on human rights abuses.

Hailing from Buenos Aires, he served as an Archbishop between the years 2001 to 2013. He was popular for his austere approach towards life and continuously fought with the Argentinian government over social justice class issues.

Historic Election of A New Pope

Benedict XVI's resignation was a shock due to it being the first exchange of office in six centuries. On the 13th of March in 2013, Francis was chosen as pope. His election shocked the world due to him being the first non-Europian head pope in over 1300 years, and a Jesuit member before assumption of officer, becoming the first Amercan pope.

St.Peter's basilica centralized his being when he welcomed the world with the sentence “Brothers and sisters, good evening." Unlike previous popes, he planned on doing the reverse in terms of greeting claiming "Praised be Jesus Christ!". Honouring St. Francis Assisi as a pop Francis planned on assuming the name due to being known for being devoted to man kind, the poor and the world.

Ignoring the traditional vestment, Francis chose a silver-plated cross while forgoing the royal red velvet on the mozzetta, and golden cross for normal shoes, signifying a new lifestyle for the pope.

A Legacy of Inclusion and Reform

During his term, Francis tried to make the Church inclusive, supporting women’s issues, and dealing with the worldwide issue of sexual abuse of children by priests. His papacy focused on compassion, dialogue, and humility.

As the Church suffers from the demise of Pope Francis, his legacy as a reformer and as a bridge-builder is bound to be remembered for years to come.