Pope Francis passes away: How his papacy quietly shaped NM Catholicism

Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the first pope from the Americas, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed early Monday. His passing marks the end of a historic papacy that began in 2013 and spanned more than a decade of leadership marked by broad international outreach and internal reform. His passing came one day after Easter, and he met with Vice President J.D. Vance, who is a Catholic.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis became the first Jesuit pope and the first non-European pontiff in more than 1,200 years. His papacy followed the unprecedented resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and ushered in a new chapter for the Church amid a rapidly changing world.

While Pope Francis’ initiatives sometimes sparked debate within the global Catholic community, his tenure saw significant engagement with regions historically shaped by Catholic heritage, including the American Southwest. In New Mexico, where Catholicism has deep roots dating back to Spanish colonization, Francis’ leadership coincided with renewed attention to issues facing rural dioceses.

Although Francis never visited New Mexico in person, his influence was noted throughout the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and the Diocese of Gallup and Las Cruces. Local bishops often referenced his calls for outreach to the peripheries of society and support for charitable missions. Under his leadership, New Mexico’s Catholic institutions continued their long-standing commitments to providing education, healthcare, and food assistance through faith-based organizations.

New Mexico’s Catholic communities, including many rural parishes and historic mission churches, continued to carry out traditional liturgical practices during the Francis papacy. While some of the Pope’s global pronouncements received mixed responses, specifically to the chagrin of traditional Catholics who practice the sacred Latin Mass, many Catholics in the state found unity in his consistent emphasis on prayer, humility, and the spiritual needs of the faithful.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vatican-linked relief funds were distributed through Catholic Charities branches across the United States, including in Albuquerque and Las Cruces. These efforts provided support to families and individuals during times of economic strain, helping to maintain the Church’s presence in struggling communities.

Pope Francis also emphasized the importance of pastoral care in dioceses facing priest shortages, a challenge that has affected New Mexico for decades. His global focus on vocations and parish life echoed locally as dioceses worked to sustain clergy in remote and underserved areas of the state.

Although some of Francis’ positions on global issues were more widely accepted outside traditional circles, his core message of compassion, faithfulness, and pastoral presence left a lasting impact on millions of Catholics worldwide. In New Mexico, where over one-third of the population identifies as Catholic, his words and witness were often felt through local clergy, parish missions, and diocesan leadership.

The Vatican has not yet announced a date for the funeral Mass, though tradition holds that nine days of mourning (novemdiales) will follow the Pope’s death. Preparations are already underway for the gathering of cardinals in Rome to convene a conclave and elect a new successor to the Chair of Saint Peter. According to analyses of the current makeup of the College of Cardinals, the next pope is expected to hold moderately conservative to more traditionalist views. 

Pope Francis’ passing marks the end of a notable chapter in Church history. His leadership, while at times met with differing interpretations, undeniably shaped the trajectory of the Church in the 21st century, reaching even the chapels and mission churches of New Mexico with his call to live out the Gospel faithfully and sincerely.