On April 21, 2025, the Vatican officially announced the passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88. The cause of death was heart failure caused by a stroke. His departure was quiet, yet his legacy resounds with profound impact on the modern world.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he became the 266th pope in 2013—the first ever from Latin America and the Jesuit order. From the moment he took office, he chose humility over tradition. He refused to live in the Apostolic Palace, wearing a simple iron cross instead of gold, and traveled in a small car instead of a limousine.
He became known as the “Pope of the Poor.” He stood with those at the margins—refugees, the homeless, LGBTQ individuals, and remarried Catholics. He said the Church should be like a “field hospital” where the wounded can find healing first.
His leadership redefined what success can look like in the 21st century. He was not loud. He was not dominant. He was consistent, sincere, and human. He did not speak from a pedestal but walked beside those in pain.
Even a day before his death, he led the Easter Mass, calling for peace in Gaza. Just like when he quietly held hands with grieving families of the Sewol ferry disaster in Korea—he didn't have to say much. His presence spoke volumes.
His funeral will be held in simplicity, as he wished. His body will be buried beneath the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, not within the Vatican. Even in death, he chose modesty.
Today, I pay tribute to his life. His humility was the mirror of our time.
Pope Francis may have passed, but the values he stood for—humility, love, and inclusion—continue to challenge us all.
What does it truly mean to succeed?
He answered it not with words, but with his life.