Staff Reports
The world is witnessing the end of an era with the passing of Pope Francis at age 88, who died on Easter Monday at his Vatican residence. While global leaders and media outlets have rushed to praise his legacy of compassion and inclusion, it’s impossible to ignore the deep divisions his papacy fostered, especially among American Catholics. Pope Francis was celebrated for his outreach to the marginalized and his progressive stances, but for many faithful who hold to traditional doctrine, his tenure marked a period of confusion and frustration within the Church and the broader Christian community.
Francis’s papacy was defined by a relentless push for social justice, open borders, and a reorientation of the Church’s priorities away from long-held moral teachings and toward political activism. He repeatedly criticized conservative leaders, most notably President Trump, for enforcing immigration laws and prioritizing national sovereignty—a core responsibility of any government. While the Pope called the Trump administration’s deportation policies a “disgrace,” he seemed far less concerned with holding left-wing politicians like Joe Biden accountable for their open defiance of Catholic teaching on issues like abortion and gender ideology. This selective outrage did not go unnoticed by millions of American Catholics, who found themselves increasingly alienated from Rome’s leadership.
It speaks volumes that, in the wake of Francis’s death, both President Trump and Vice President JD Vance offered respectful condolences, with Trump ordering flags to half-staff and calling the Pope a “good man.” Their gestures reflect a basic decency and respect for the office of the papacy, even as Francis himself was often openly hostile to conservative values. Meanwhile, former President Biden and his allies have tried to claim the Pope’s legacy as their own, despite their policies standing in direct contradiction to fundamental Catholic doctrine. The irony is hard to miss: the same leaders who champion abortion on demand and radical social policies are now lauding a Pope who, at least in theory, should have been their most consistent critic.
As the Church prepares to select a new pope, the stakes could not be higher. The American Catholic Church is more divided than ever, with a growing conservative movement demanding a return to orthodoxy and moral clarity. Recent elections have shown that Catholics in the United States are increasingly supporting candidates who stand for life, religious liberty, and secure borders—values that align with the Church’s true teachings, not the political fashions of the day. The next pontiff will face immense pressure to heal these divisions and restore trust among the faithful who feel abandoned by Rome’s embrace of progressive politics.
Pope Francis’s death is a moment for reflection—not just on his legacy, but on the future of the Catholic Church and its role in public life. For those who believe in the enduring truths of the faith, the hope is that the next pope will prioritize spiritual renewal over political activism, defend the sanctity of life, and champion the family as the cornerstone of society. The world is desperate for moral leadership rooted in timeless values, not fleeting trends. As we honor the passing of Pope Francis, let us pray that the Church will once again become a beacon of truth and hope in a world sorely in need of both.
