Pope Francis — the first pope from Latin America, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first non-European to lead the Church since the 8th century — died on Monday, marking the end of a historic papacy.
Kim Haines-Eitzen, a professor of religious studies, whose work explores the role of women in early Christianity, says a key to Pope Francis’ legacy will be his inclusion of long-marginalized voices, especially women, in Church decision-making, notably through the ‘Synod on Synodality.’
Haines-Eitzen says: “Pope Francis’ final Easter message encapsulates the very themes for which he will be remembered: mercy, hope, and peace. He was a tireless advocate for the vulnerable, including those suffering from war and violence, and the marginalized, including migrants. His efforts to include women’s voices and to expand their leadership harken back to the earliest history of the Church. ‘We were not made for death, but for life,’ he said, and his death is an opportunity to reflect on his unusual legacy. The question now is whether the next Pope will follow in Francis’ progressive footsteps.”
Landon Schnabel, associate professor of sociology studying religion and inequality, says that Francis’ papacy exemplified the tightrope religious institutions walk when confronting social transformation, as he sought to preserve the Church’s global unity while guiding it through seismic cultural shifts.
Schnabel says: “Pope Francis’ leadership reveals how ancient institutions bend without breaking. His calculated reforms — allowing priests to bless same-sex couples while maintaining traditional marriage doctrine — create breathing room within doctrinal boundaries rather than dismantling them.
“Official doctrine and lived practice now stand in stark contrast. Roughly two-thirds of American Catholics support same-sex marriage despite the Vatican's continued opposition. In many countries, Catholics regularly use birth control despite official teaching against it. The Church operates at two levels: what Rome proclaims and what the people practice.
“Unlike Protestant denominations that split over controversies, Catholicism's structure forces unity across wildly divergent cultures. Francis answered with symbolic gestures that open doorways without removing walls. His emphasis on pastoral compassion over doctrinal rigidity offered a middle path in an increasingly polarized world — seeking to keep both progressives and traditionalists within the same spiritual tent.
“The next conclave stands at a crossroads. While a return to traditionalism seems likely given how the pendulum tends to swing, the cardinals might surprise us by selecting someone to expand Francis' reforms—though even the most progressive pope would find himself constrained by two thousand years of tradition. Whatever direction they choose, the next pontiff must somehow bridge the gulf between Vatican pronouncements and the lived reality of well over a billion Catholics worldwide.”
Maria Cristina Garcia, the Howard A. Newman Professor of American Studies, is an expert on refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers. She believes that immigration will play a central role in defining the Pope’s legacy.
Garcia says: “For twelve years, as countries militarized their borders to bar entry, Pope Francis urged us to be generous in our response to the migrant and the refugee. He modeled that generosity throughout his life, traveling to meet with those detained in prisons and camps, and often facilitating their resettlement. He passionately scolded those responsible for the poverty, economic debt, violence, and climate catastrophes that made millions vulnerable to displacement; and yet he was always willing — even on the last day of his life — to speak and offer blessings to all.”
For media inquiries, contact Ellen Leventry, eel2@cornell.edu, (607) 882-5833.
