On Easter Monday on April 21 at 88 years old, Pope Francis died from a stroke and heart failure. His death was announced at 9:45 a.m. in Italy by a camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.

He was known for his global actions that helped many marginalized people and his treatment of others, which garnered many people to see him as an influential pope. His political discussions and acts of acceptance made him a beacon of hope and justice within the Catholic religion and church.

Before his death, Pope Francis said his final address: “I appeal to the warring parties: Call on a ceasefire, release the hostages, and come to the aid of starving people who aspire to a future of peace!”

The Christian community within Gaza had revealed that the pope called them daily during the 18 months of war. They said he called even when they could not be reached just to see if they were okay, for prayer, and to ask if there was anything he could do to help them.

Pope Francis also advocated for the LGBTQ+ youth and people when they were being denied entry into churches.

“We are all children of God, and God loves us as we are and for the strength that each of us fights for our dignity,” Pope Francis said in an interview. “Being homosexual is not a crime.”

He included many people of different sexual orientations in his conversations to allow the community to feel welcomed. Pope Francis made many people of the community feel seen by a religion and made anyone who undermined the LGBTQ+ community know that their actions are wrong.

Another appreciative act Pope Francis did was when he would wash people’s feet with holy water on Holy Thursdays. He washed the feet of marginalized people, such as immigrants, people with disabilities, and inmates.

This practice of washing people’s feet with holy water is symbolic of the act of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples before being crucified. Pope Francis also did it to repay the community and show his humility as pope.

Pope Francis had many more influential acts that helped many people see light or have hope for a new reform of the Catholic Church. His death was impactful and left many people in mourning, and some worry about what is to come after the conclave.