More than five million Australian Catholics are in mourning following the death of Pope Francis, who is being remembered for his closeness to the nation. The Pope died on Monday, April 21, 2025, aged 88, after recently battling a serious bout of double pneumonia. According to the 2021 Census, there are 5.1 million people in Australia who identify as Catholic, equating to about 20 percent of the total population.
Australia’s only Cardinal Mykola Bychok said Francis was a Pope for the marginalised and those on the periphery. “He was a man of simple piety who strove to bring the church closer to people,” the cardinal said in a statement. “He gave freely of his gifts and had a unique personal approach to all he met.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted that the first Pope from the Southern Hemisphere was close to the people of Australia. “For Australian Catholics, he was a devoted champion and loving father,” Mr Albanese told reporters. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton expressed his condolences to Catholic Australians on the death of the 266th pontiff. “He lived frugally and simply,” Mr Dutton said. “Above all else, he was driven by Christ’s values of mercy and forgiveness.”
Governor-General Sam Mostyn highlighted the Pope’s visit to Australia in September 2024 as a testament to his devotion to the global church. “As millions of Australian Catholics mourn a spiritual guide, father, and friend, we can all reflect on His Holiness’ message of peace; of respect for the rights and dignity of every member of our human family; and care for the Earth, our common home,” Ms Mostyn said.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio ascended to become the Supreme Pontiff in 2013, making him the first Pope from Latin America, the first Jesuit Pope, and the first Pope from the southern hemisphere since early Christianity. He was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Mario, an accountant, and Regina, a stay-at-home wife. Both were Italian immigrants, with Francis graduating as a chemical technician before choosing the path of the priesthood.
Throughout his 12-year tenure, Pope Francis was lauded for his simplicity, humility, warmth, and his concern for the poor and those pushed to the edges. His papacy centred on themes of social justice, including calling attention to people seeking asylum, refugees and migrants, and the need to care for creation, Australian Catholic University lecturer Sandie Cornish said. “He’s been very much a person who values face-to-face, embodied encounter, not talking about these issues in the abstract, but remembering the faces of the people who experience these issues,” she told AAP.
Pope Francis has revitalised Catholic teaching and presided over a “paradigm shift” in his focus on the environment. In addition to these progressive shifts, the Pope has made structural changes to the Vatican’s leadership by appointing women to key positions and changing rules to allow lay people to head departments. While Pope Francis wasn’t considered to have done a perfect job in contending with sexually abusive priests’ crimes, Dr Cornish believes he will be remembered as someone who tried to address the issue.
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, said the news did not come as a surprise given the Pope’s age and declining health but would be received with great sadness. “The 12 years of the papacy of Pope Francis were not without controversy,” Archbishop Costelloe said. “His constant call that the Church should be open to everybody caused some to fear that he was putting at risk the integrity of the Church’s faith and moral teaching.”
Cardinal Bychok, who is on a pilgrimage in the Holy Land, will be the sole attendee from Australia at the conclave. Following Pope Francis's death, cardinals will be summoned to Rome to choose his successor, with a conclave expected to be held within the next two to three weeks. This meeting will see cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel to vote in secrecy.
Pope Francis's death came just a day after he delighted the crowds of worshippers at the Vatican on Easter Sunday with an appearance on the balcony at Saint Peter's Basilica despite still convalescing after a severe illness. He had been in a critical condition in hospital in Rome receiving treatment for double pneumonia before being discharged on March 23.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in a statement published by the Vatican on its Telegram channel. “This morning at 7:35 am [local time] the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church.”
Francis had come close to dying twice earlier this year while suffering from pneumonia. He spent 38 days in hospital before he was released on March 23. On Sunday he wished the crowds on Saint Peter's Square a “Happy Easter” as he waved and called for freedom of thought and tolerance.
World leaders have united in paying tribute to Pope Francis, describing him as a man who touched many lives. In an emotional speech, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Francis's compassion embraced all humanity. “Today he will be mourned by Catholics and non-Catholics alike,” he said. “He urged us to remember all we hold in common, and he asked the world to hear the cry of the Earth, our common home.”
US Vice President JD Vance, who met with the pope at the Vatican on Easter Sunday, said he will remember the pope for the homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. “I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,” he said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed sadness over the news of the pope, whom she had a close relationship with. “The pope and I had a more active relationship than was apparent,” she said. “He was able to give comfort in very difficult moments, I have many memories of the pope.”
As the Church prepares for the selection of a new pope, millions across the globe are mourning the loss of a transformational leader whose faith, compassion, and courage left an indelible mark on the 21st century.
