Good day. It's Monday, April the 21st, 2025. Welcome to Denison Forum's Daily Article Podcast. I'm Chris Elkins,

narrating today's daily article, authored by our CEO and co-founder, Dr. Jim Denison.

I woke up this morning to the news that Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, has died.

His passing was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican Camerlingo.

Bells told in church towers across Rome after the announcement.

The Pope survived a 38-day stay in Jemeli Hospital for a respiratory crisis emerging yesterday

to bless thousands of people in St. Peter Square for Easter Sunday.

He then surprised them by riding in the Popemobile through the piazza.

Later in the day, he met briefly with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance.

The passing of a Pope is a monumental event for a

church numbering 1.4 billion across the world. Francis's pontificate was especially historic and

often controversial. Journalists and historians will be discussing and debating his leadership

for many days. His statements and actions with regard to women,

LGBTQ people, clergy sexual abuse, migrants, Vatican reform, and the priesthood were

applauded by many and opposed by many others. Of all that could be said about Pope Francis this morning,

however, I want to focus on his humility.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Argentina on December the 17th, 1936.

A rising star in the Catholic Church, he was appointed head of all Jesuits in Argentina and Uruguay at the age of 36, but what he later called my

authoritarian and quick manner of making decisions led to deep divisions in the Jesuit

community. As a result, he was exiled for two years in Argentina, a period Bergoglio

later called a time of interior crisis. The priest who emerged was more

humble, servant-hearted, and people-centered. He learned that caring for hurting souls is the

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