20/04/2026
REMEMBERING POPE FRANCIS ON HIS FIRST DEATH ANNIVERSARY ๐๏ธ
"Dear young people, don't observe life from a balcony. Don't confuse happiness with an armchair... Don't be 'parked cars,' but dream freely and make good decisions. Make a mess!" โ Pope Francis
On April 21, we remember the first death anniversary of Pope Francisโa shepherd whose life and ministry left a lasting mark on the Church and the world.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he would one day rise to become the 266th pope of the Catholic Church. Elected on March 13, 2013, he made history as the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to assume the papacy. From the very beginning, his leadership reflected simplicity, humility, and a deep concern for those often forgotten by society.
Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis consistently called the faithful to live out the Gospel through concrete acts of mercy. He championed the poor, reached out to the marginalized, and urged global responsibility for creationโreminding the world that care for the environment is inseparable from care for humanity. His words and actions challenged both the Church and the wider world to move beyond indifference and toward compassion.
On April 21, 2025, he passed away at the age of 88 at Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City. His passing on Easter Mondayโjust a day after his final public appearance at Easter Massโfelt deeply symbolic: a life poured out in service, even to the very end of the Paschal celebration.
Today, as we remember him, we are invited not only to honor his memory but to continue his missionโbuilding a Church that listens, welcomes, and walks with the people, especially those on the peripheries.