From Buenos Aires to the Vatican: A Papacy That Changed the World
Vatican City — As the world continues to mourn the passing of Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, attention has turned not only to his death but to the profound and far-reaching legacy he leaves behind. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who ascended to the papacy in 2013, was more than a pontiff — he was a reformer, a bridge-builder, and a moral compass in a fractured world.
From his humble beginnings in Argentina to his role as a global spiritual leader, Pope Francis reshaped the papacy through his unwavering focus on mercy, inclusion, and justice. Here, we look back at 10 defining moments that capture the soul of his extraordinary life and mission.
1. The Humble “Buonasera” – March 13, 2013
The world met its first Latin American pope with a simple, disarming greeting:
“Brothers and sisters, good evening.”
On the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis stood without the traditional red mozzetta, symbolizing humility. He bowed before the crowd and asked for their prayers — a small gesture that would set the tone for his papacy.
@FaithfulInRome: “He didn’t speak at us — he spoke with us. It felt like a family member had just been elected pope.”
2. Washing the Feet of Inmates – Holy Thursday, 2013
In a bold departure from papal tradition, Francis celebrated Holy Thursday Mass inside a juvenile detention center, where he washed and kissed the feet of young inmates — including Muslim and female prisoners.
“Who am I to judge?” he would say later — a phrase that would define his attitude toward inclusion and compassion.
@ActivistCatholic: “That image — the pope kneeling before an inmate — shattered walls. It baptized a new era.”
3. Evangelii Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel – 2013
His first major document as pope laid out a vision for a Church that “goes forth” to the peripheries of society. In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis called for a renewal of mission, simplicity, and solidarity with the poor.
He warned against a “self-referential” Church and reminded the faithful that the Gospel is not a museum artifact but a call to radical love.
4. Laudato Si’: A Papal Cry for the Planet – 2015
Francis became the first pope to devote an entire encyclical to the environment. In Laudato Si’, he described the Earth as “our common home” and criticized consumerism and political indifference in the face of climate change.
Greta Thunberg: “Pope Francis was one of the first global leaders to say what needed to be said. He gave moral clarity to a confused world.”
5. The Synod on the Family – 2014-2015
A landmark series of discussions opened the door for more nuanced conversations around marriage, divorce, and LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Church. Though changes were incremental, Francis emphasized the importance of “accompanying people, not condemning them.”
“Reality is greater than ideas,” he famously wrote.
6. Embrace of the Disabled Man – 2013
A photo that would circle the globe: Pope Francis wrapping his arms around a severely disfigured man in St. Peter’s Square. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t look away.
@GlobalCatholic: “That moment didn’t need words. It was the Gospel, alive in real time.”
7. Meeting with Grand Ayatollah Al-Sistani – 2021
On a historic trip to Iraq, Francis met with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, one of the most influential figures in Shia Islam. The meeting was hailed as a milestone in interreligious dialogue.
“Peace does not demand winners or losers, but brothers,” Francis said during the visit.
8. Visiting Refugees on Lesbos – 2016
Francis visited the Greek island of Lesbos amid the refugee crisis and returned to Rome with 12 Syrian refugees aboard his papal plane. His message was clear: borders should not be barriers to compassion.
“We must build bridges, not walls.”
@HumanRightsWatch: “Pope Francis turned the refugee crisis into a human crisis. He made us see.”
9. The COVID-19 Urbi et Orbi Blessing – March 27, 2020
In a deserted, rain-slicked St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis offered an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing to a locked-down world. Alone with the Blessed Sacrament, he prayed for an end to suffering, for doctors and nurses, and for faith in the storm.
“We are all in the same boat,” he said, echoing the Gospel story of Jesus calming the sea.
@HopeInDarkness: “That night, the silence wasn’t empty. It was sacred.”
10. Francis’ Final Days: A Pope Who Never Left the People
Even as his health declined, Pope Francis continued working, praying, and receiving visitors. He never returned to his native Argentina, choosing instead to serve Rome until the end.
“I will go to the Father from here, where Peter served,” he once confided.
His funeral is set to take place at St. Peter’s Square, where the world will gather to say goodbye — not just to a pope, but to a man who lived the Beatitudes every day.
Global Reactions to His Legacy
From all corners of the globe, tributes have painted a portrait of a pope who broke walls, built bridges, and walked with the people.
Barack Obama: “He showed the world what true leadership rooted in empathy looks like.”
President Emmanuel Macron: “He was a pope of the margins, and thus, a pope for all.”
Patriarch Bartholomew I: “He was a brother in Christ and a partner in peace.”
Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin (UK): “He opened doors in faith we didn’t know existed.”
Final Thoughts: A Shepherd to the End
In just over a decade, Pope Francis didn’t just leave footprints in the Vatican — he left fingerprints on the conscience of the world. He brought the Church closer to the people, and the people closer to God.
“A good shepherd smells like the sheep,” he said early in his papacy.
He lived that out in full — and now, as bells toll across cities and villages alike, that same shepherd is being carried home.
