Archbishop Mark Coleridge Reflects on the Life of Pope Francis 

The Vatican announced that Pope Francis had passed away aged 88 on Easter Monday, April 21^st 2025, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. 

Pope Francis had been admitted to hospital in February suffering from bronchitis and pneumonia, spending over one month in care. 

Born Jorge Maria Bergoglio, Pope Francis became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1989, with Pope John Paul II elevating the Argentinian to the College of Cardinals in 2001. 

Cardinal Bergoglio was elected by the papal conclave in March 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. 

Pope Francis, in many ways, shattered the traditional mould of what was expected from the leader of the Catholic Church and its more than one billion followers worldwide. 

He was the first Jesuit pope (from the Society of Jesus), the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere and the first to be raised outside of Europe since the 8^th century. 

He chose the papal name Francis in honour of Francis of Assisi, decided not to reside in the Apostolic Palace, and chose to be driven around in a small sedan.   

For many, Pope Francis’ legacy will be that of doing away with much of the formalities around the papacy. 

Archbishop Mark Coleridge leads the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane, and reflected on the service of Pope Francis in a recent interview with 96five’s Jess Drummond. 

 “From the first day, he has been a pope of surprises,” said Archbishop Coleridge. 

“I remember his election vividly because I was asked to do media commentary at the time, and I had gone through and crossed out all the cardinals I thought couldn’t be elected, and he was one.  

“I thought he’s too old, and he’s a Jesuit – they wouldn’t elect someone of that age or a Jesuit. Well, how wrong I was.  

“And then when he appeared eventually on the balcony of St. Peter’s, he was dressed differently than you expected. He spoke differently than you expected. And before he gave the blessing, he asked the people to pray for him. 

“Through the years he became a voice that spoke of mercy in an often merciless world – and that’s crucial. He spoke of fraternity in a very badly fragmented world. He spoke of peace in a world that is incredibly and increasingly violent, and he spoke of truth in a world where there are a lot of lies.”

Archbishop Coleridge said that there are several ways that he thinks Pope Francis would like to be remembered. 

“He’s not worried much about what people say or think of him because he had this profound sense that he’s a sinner. He says this, I’m a sinner, but I’m loved and chosen by a merciful God. Now that that really reaches deep into the life of this man. 

“He came in after the resignation of Pope Benedict, and despite the enormity of the challenges and the pressures he made the papacy look easy.”

“I think he’d like to be remembered as a sinful man, called unexpectedly out of the blue from a long way away, to an extraordinary ministry as Pope. And that the God who called him hasn’t let him down, has worked through him in ways that must astonish even him as he looked back on his life.  He has been an enormous servant, not just of the Catholic Church, but I happen to think of Christianity, and the world.” 

Listen to the Jess Drummond’s recent interview with Archbishop Coleridge in the audio player at the top of the page.  The interview was recorded in February this year, while Pope Francis was ill and in hospital. 

Main Image: Archbishop Mark Coleridge is the leader of the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane. He has also served in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State from 1997 to 2002, which assists the Pope in his diplomatic and political duties (supplied Archdiocese of Brisbane).