Headline Roundup • April 21st, 2025
Pope Francis Dies at 88
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Pope Francis, leader of the Catholic Church, died at 88 early on Monday after a long battle with chronic lung disease and complications from pneumonia.
The Details: Born in Argentina in 1936, Pope Francis made history as the first leader of the Vatican from the Americas and the first representing the Jesuit order. Francis broke several traditions during his papacy, such as offering blessings to same-sex couples and initially opting to live in the Vatican City guest house instead of the traditional Apostolic Palace to be closer to clergy members.
For Context: Vice President JD Vance met with Francis on Easter Sunday after the Pope publicly criticized the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Monday is Easter Monday, which is observed as a holiday in many Western countries.
Political Context: Francis was known for his progressive views and received both praise and criticism for this. He expressed support for both gay and transgender individuals and expressed skepticism toward capitalism. He also faced the Catholic Church’s history of sexual abuse and pledged to end it.
How The Media Covered It: Media across the spectrum highlighted the politics of Pope Francis. Outlets from the left and center often framed Francis extra positively as humble and a trailblazer. Associated Press (Left bias) wrote in its opening line that Francis “charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change.” The Daily Caller (Right) included that “a number of the messages from his pontificate appeared to some Western critics as promoting progressive values of tolerance and inclusion towards international matters.”
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Featured Coverage of this Story
Francis, the 266th supreme pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and spiritual shepherd of her estimated 1.39 billion members for nearly twelve years, died Monday in Rome at the age of 88 weeks after after being hospitalized Feb. 14 to treat double pneumonia, the Vatican announced.
Vice President JD Vance met with the Holy Father only hours earlier.
As the news broke across Christendom and the world, church bells began to solemnly toll and the prayers of millions were raised in gratitude for his life, in hope and concern for the future...
AP Photo/Andrew Medichini
Pope Francis, the trailblazing Catholic leader known for his human-rights advocacy and sharp political edge, died Monday, April 21, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta after battling a long series of health complications stemming from a chronic lung disease, the Vatican announced.
The pontiff had been hospitalized on Feb. 14 with bronchitis, contracted pneumonia four days later and was listed in “critical condition” by the Vatican on Saturday, Feb. 22. He never fully recovered.
Pope Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change, died Monday. He was 88.
Bells tolled in church towers across Rome after the announcement, which was read out by Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis lived.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the...
