(RNS) — Figures from the realms of politics to sports, from presiding over the Vatican to Temple Square, are among those who died in 2025 and will be remembered for shaping the world of faith.
They include a millennial influencer who reached vast audiences on social media and college campuses, while others wrote dozens of books or reached millions via radio and TV stations. Others used their pulpits to preach the gospel or advocated for the environment, election fairness or justice within and beyond their denominations.
Here, we recall some of the religious leaders who died this year.
Pope Francis
The former archbishop of Buenos Aires who became the worldwide leader of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013 died on April 21 at age 88. The day before, he surprised faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square for Easter Sunday. Francis, a charismatic reformer, was a leader of many firsts, including becoming the first Latin American pope and the first Jesuit pontiff.
Known for his humility — he chose to wear simple clothing and jewelry — Francis was an advocate for peace in war-torn countries and for interfaith engagement that fostered aid for the environment and for the poor. He made significant structural and economic reforms in the Vatican and selected new cardinals that led to the most diverse College of Cardinals in the church’s history. He sought to restore the church’s credibility after The Boston Globe’s 2002 “Spotlight” inv …