Pope Francis has died at 88, leaving a legacy marked by controversy as Glenn Beck questions what the future holds for the Catholic Church in a world of increasing globalism.
At a Glance
- Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at age 88 after suffering from respiratory issues
- Glenn Beck contrasts Francis with his predecessor Benedict XVI, describing the shift from conservative leadership to what he views as a globalist approach
- Beck suggests Francis’s papacy marked a significant departure from traditional Catholic doctrine
- A conclave of cardinals will select the next pope within 15-20 days amid speculation about continued Vatican transformation
- Francis’s funeral will follow his requested simplified rites focusing on faith rather than worldly power
The Death of Pope Francis
Pope Francis died at 7:35 a.m. on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. Cardinal Kevin Farrell made the announcement, stating the 88-year-old pontiff “returned to the house of the Father.” The cause of death was reported as a stroke leading to heart failure after the pope had been in a coma.
His final public appearance occurred on Easter Sunday, where observers noted his frail condition. Just before his passing, Francis met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who later remarked on the Pope’s visibly deteriorating health.
Francis had been hospitalized on February 14, 2025, for bronchitis that progressed to bilateral pneumonia, requiring a 38-day hospital stay before returning to the Vatican for recovery. His respiratory issues dated back to 1957 when, as Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, he underwent surgery to remove part of a lung due to a severe infection.
These longstanding health challenges frequently affected his travel plans, including a canceled visit to the UAE in November 2023.
Beck’s Assessment of Francis’s Papacy
Glenn Beck has offered a critical perspective on Pope Francis and the dramatic shift his papacy represented following Benedict XVI. According to Beck, Benedict provided “moral clarity” as “a traditionalist and a spiritual authority,” qualities he believes were absent in Francis’s approach to leadership. Beck suggests that Francis’s election marked a significant turning point for the Catholic Church, moving it away from traditional doctrine toward what he characterizes as a more progressive, globalist agenda.
“The globalists hated him, the media called him rigid, progressives called him dangerous, and the machine went to work behind closed doors because that machine is in every government, and make no mistake — the Vatican is a government,” says Glenn Beck.
Beck contends that Francis’s papacy represented a fundamental shift in the Church’s focus, emphasizing climate change and social justice issues while creating what he perceives as doctrinal ambiguity. This shift, in Beck’s view, was not merely evolutionary but potentially orchestrated by internal forces seeking to realign the Church’s mission with modern progressive objectives rather than traditional Catholic teachings.
Francis’s Global Legacy and Upcoming Succession
Despite the criticisms, Francis leaves behind a complex legacy that includes extensive efforts at interfaith dialogue and advocacy for marginalized groups. He was the first Latin American pope and served for over 12 years. Global leaders have offered tributes, with figures like King Charles III and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praising his contributions. Even geopolitical adversaries like Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued condolences, despite Francis’s sometimes controversial stance on their conflict.
A secret conclave of cardinals will convene within the next 15-20 days to select Francis’s successor. This process takes on particular significance given Beck’s suggestion of ongoing transformation within the Vatican.
In April 2024, Francis approved an updated edition of papal funeral rites, emphasizing simplicity and focusing on the Pope as “a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.” These changes reflect Francis’s desire for a funeral centered on faith in the Risen Christ rather than worldly status and power.
The Future of the Catholic Church
As the Church prepares for a new era of leadership, questions about its direction remain prominent in conservative circles. Beck’s analysis hints at concerns that the selection of Francis’s successor might continue what he views as a departure from traditional Catholic principles. The upcoming conclave will determine whether the Church maintains Francis’s progressive approach or pivots toward more traditional doctrine reminiscent of Benedict XVI’s papacy.
Critics have noted Francis’s handling of clergy sex abuse scandals and his stance on issues like women’s ordination as shortcomings of his papacy. At the same time, supporters praise his focus on environmental protection and advocacy for refugees and the poor. This tension between traditional Catholic values and modern social concerns will likely influence discussions about the Church’s future leadership and mission in a rapidly changing world.
