Vatican Ascensions: Past, Present, Future
- Kean Huy Alado
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Kean Huy Alado
Pope Francis died at 88 on April 21, 2025. As the bishop of Rome, but more importantly, the head of the global Catholic Church, the news surrounding his passing has left many believers grieving yet also looking forward to the selection of his successor.
Pope Francis was born on December 17, 1936, in Argentina as Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Later, he would become the Jesuit Archbishop of Buenos Aires and eventually ascend to the status of the pope as the first pope of the Americas. As a pope, he held over 15 years in episcopal ministry and lived a very simple life in respect for the similar situation of his people. Pope Francis lived in an apartment and cooked his own supper, and he traveled intensively with public transportation despite the privileges and accommodation provided to the pope.
A community leader of Villa 31, Cesar Sanabria, paid his respects to the late Pope Francis in an interview surrounding his relationship with the pope. He adorned Pope Francis with the title, “the pope of the poor,” declaring, “we, the poor, had a fantastic connection with him.” This was attained through the motivation, leadership and counsel provided by the pope, which signified his true connection to the people and adherence to the beliefs he held.
Locally, nursing senior, Saintilma Fertil, indicated that the pope’s passing, “feels like losing a guiding light who taught the world about compassion, humility, and hope,” Fertil continued, “His life reminded me to care for others, especially the poor and forgotten.”
The same sentiment is held by Barry University’s President, Mike Allen, who wrote in a letter, “Pope Francis was an advocate for peace and human dignity, whose unwavering commitment inspired us all to act in solidarity toward communities facing turmoil.” Allen added, “The Pope’s teachings aligned closely with our university's Core Commitments to educate leaders grounded in faith and service and to be good stewards of our Earth.” This demonstrates the impact the pope had globally, even within the local Barry university community.
Ironically, the pope passed one day after Easter Sunday, a day which signifies the resurrection of Jesus Christ in Christianity. This coincidence may raise ideas surrounding signs of divinity in daily life among the members of the Christian community.
Still, the passing of the pope inherently raises concerns about his successor. On May 7, the Vatican City will call upon the conclave, the 135 cardinals who are eligible to vote, to endorse a candidate for the ascension to popehood.
Among the candidates are: Pietro Parolin, the current secretary of state for the Holy See, Matteo Zuppi, the Archbishop of Bologna since 2015, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, Jose Tolentino de Mendonca, a Portuguese cardinal, Luis Antonio Tagle, a Filipino cardinal since 2012, Péter Erdő, a Hungarian expert in canon law and archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, and Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, one of Africa's leading archbishops who serves in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's capital.
If either Tagle or Besungu are selected, this would be another first for the Vatican — either the first Asian pope or the first Black pope.
The selection process is set to begin next month and will include many discussions to decide the best approach to selecting the next Pope.
Overall, Pope Francis’s passing holds great significance to the political state of the Christian community, and to some extent, the world. It is difficult to say how the next pope will perform to lead the Catholic church in these times, but Pope Francis has set his legacy and impact as one that remains connected, compassionate, and caring for the poor and their simple way of life.
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