Photos: The world reacts to the death of Pope Francis

April 21, 2025 by Chicago Tribune

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.

A faithful holds a portrait of the late Pope Francis during Mass at the Basílica de San José de Flores, where he worshipped as a youth, following the Vatican's announcement of his death in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 21, 2025. (Gustavo Garello/AP) — A faithful holds a portrait of the late Pope Francis during Mass at the Basílica de San José de Flores, where he worshipped as a youth, following the Vatican’s announcement of his death in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 21, 2025. (Gustavo Garello/AP)

Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St. Peter's Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Andrew Medichini/AP) — Pope Francis appears on the central lodge of St. Peter’s Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Pope Francis is presented with a cake by Valentina Alazraki, correspondent for TeleVisa Univision, to celebrate his upcoming Dec. 17, 88th birthday, on the flight back to Rome at the end of his one-day visit to Ajaccio in the French island of Corsica, Dec. 15, 2024. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

Pope Francis looks at traditional dancers performing at the Martyrs' Stadium In Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Feb. 2, 2023. (Gregorio Borgia/AP) — Pope Francis looks at traditional dancers performing at the Martyrs’ Stadium In Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Feb. 2, 2023. (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

Pope Francis hugs 8-year-old Dominic Gondreau, who has cerebral palsy, after celebrating his first Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 31, 2013. (Gregorio Borgia/AP) — Pope Francis hugs 8-year-old Dominic Gondreau, who has cerebral palsy, after celebrating his first Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on March 31, 2013. (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

Pope Francis holds a baby during an audience with members of Entrepreneurs for Economy of Communion, at the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, Feb. 4, 2017. (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Pope Francis prays near the lake in Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta, during his visit to Canada on July 26, 2022. Pope Francis, who rose from modest means in Argentina to become the first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff, died at the Vatican on Monday, April 21, 2025. He was 88. (Ian Willms/The New York Times)

Pope Francis is greeted by well-wishers upon his arrival to Our Lady Queen of Angels School in the East Harlem neighborhood of New York on Sept. 25, 2015. Pope Francis, who rose from modest means in Argentina to become the first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff, died at the Vatican on Monday, April 21, 2025. He was 88. (Eric Thayer/The New York Times)

Pope Francis stands with his hand on the ancient stones of the Western Wall before placing a note between them in Jerusalem on May 26, 2014. Pope Francis, who rose from modest means in Argentina to become the first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff, died at the Vatican on Monday, April 21, 2025. He was 88. (Rina Castelnuovo/The New York Times)

Pope Francis waves to well-wishers as he arrives to celebrate an open-air Mass at the Plaza de la Revolucin in Havana, Cuba, on Sept. 20, 2015. Pope Francis, who rose from modest means in Argentina to become the first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff, died at the Vatican on Monday, April 21, 2025. He was 88. (Daniel Berehulak/The New York Times) — Pope Francis waves to well-wishers as he arrives to celebrate an open-air Mass at the Plaza de la Revoluci—n in Havana, Cuba, on Sept. 20, 2015. Pope Francis, who rose from modest means in Argentina to become the first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff, died at the Vatican on Monday, April 21, 2025. He was 88. (Daniel Berehulak/The New York Times)

Pope Francis kisses a child as he arrives at Independence Mall during his visit to Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015. Pope Francis, who rose from modest means in Argentina to become the first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff, died at the Vatican on April 21, 2025. He was 88. (Richard Perry/The New York Times)

Argentina's cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, right, kisses the foot of Cristian Marcelo Reynoso during a Mass with youth trying to overcome drug addictions in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 20, 2008. (AP Photo) — Argentina’s cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, right, kisses the foot of Cristian Marcelo Reynoso during a Mass with youth trying to overcome drug addictions in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 20, 2008. (AP Photo)

Pope Francis gestures as he attends an annual gathering of pro-family organisations at the Auditorium della Conciliazione, in Rome, May 10, 2024. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

A worshipper cries during Mass at the Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following the Vatican's announcement of Pope Francis' death, Monday, April 21, 2025. (Natacha Pisarenko/AP) — A worshipper cries during Mass at the Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following the Vatican’s announcement of Pope Francis’ death, Monday, April 21, 2025. (Natacha Pisarenko/AP)