Overview

• Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, is remembered for his ‘diplomacy of gestures,’ including symbolic acts like kissing the feet of South Sudan’s leaders and denouncing neocolonialism in Africa.
• He shifted Vatican priorities toward the Global South and Asia, opening the 2015 Jubilee in Bangui and engaging diplomatically with China while appointing cardinals from Southeast Asia.
• Under his papacy, the Vatican attempted mediation in conflicts such as Ukraine, South Sudan, and U.S.–Cuba relations, though his influence often remained symbolic rather than decisive.
• Critics argue he was too cautious in addressing jihadist violence against Christians and perceived as deferential to Russia during the Ukraine conflict.
• As the Church enters the sede vacante period, debates continue over his moral authority and the practical limits of papal influence in shaping global politics.