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Pope Francis Dead, Vatican Says
Above: Pope Francis delivers his traditional 'Urbi et Orbi' Blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's basilica overlooking St. Peter's Square in Vatican City on April 20, 2025. Image copyright: Stefano Costantino/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Contributor via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The passing of Pope Francis, who spent his whole life in dedication to the Lord, comes with great sorrow. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized.
Narrative B
Even though Pope Francis' own personal record largely lived up to the Christian values he espoused, it cannot be ignored that his tenure was dominated by an ongoing decline in the relevance and reach of Catholicism globally, not least due to a multitude of abuse scandals that have continued to drive individuals away from faith.