The Catholic News Service has released its review of 2025, and it’s no surprise that the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV are the primary events for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics and for millions of other people as well.
Pope Francis had begun the year celebrating the Jan. 1 Mass for the feast of Mary, Mother of God, with a weak voice and a puffy face that, looking back, already indicated his doctors were struggling to control his chronic lung conditions. On Easter, after giving his blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) — but barely able to raise his hands — he took his final ride in the popemobile. Pope Francis died at 7:35 a.m. the next morning, April 21.
In addition to the mourning and the prayers, his death marked the beginning of meetings of the College of Cardinals to discuss the state of the church, its needs, and the needs of the world, and the qualities the next pope should have. The conclave to elect the pope solemnly began on May 7 with 133 cardinals entering the Sistine Chapel. Cardinal Prevost was elected the next day, on the fourth ballot, and took the name Pope Leo XIV.
“Peace be with you,” were Pope Leo’s first words to the crowd. The same words are often the first he says to any group he meets. With a warm but measured demeanor, the first U.S.-born pope eased into his new ministry, highlighting the same themes his predecessors had: the primary Christian mission of sharing the Gospel, working for peace, promoting unity within the church and within the human family, and bringing all of that together by serving the poor and denouncing injustice.
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