A Look at Pope Francis' Legacy and Focus on Social Justice
Ask students: When did Francis become pope? How was Francis different from his predecessors? How was he similar?
Pope Francis' 12-year papacy was a remarkable one, working in service to the church until the very day before he died on Easter Monday in Vatican City. He sought to focus more explicitly on social justice, on climate change and addressing the most marginalized in society. Francis used his final Easter address the day before his death to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. But he was also criticized for actions that fell short of his public remarks, undercut commitments or went too far for some Catholics.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- Who was Pope Francis? How would you describe him?
- What issues did Pope Francis work on?
- Where did Pope Francis live? Where and when did he die (what holiday was being celebrated)?
- When did Francis become pope?
- How was Francis different from his predecessors? How was he similar?
Focus Questions
Why do you think Pope Francis was overwhelmingly popular, admired by so many and seen as such a compassionate man?
According to Rev. Thomas Reese, "He didn't change any doctrine, but he certainly changed the culture of the church. He hated clericalism ("a policy of maintaining or increasing the power of a religious hierarchy" - Merriam Webster). He told bishops and priests not to act like princes, but to get down with their people and listen to them and care for them." Do you agree with Reese's assessment as to how a religious leader should act, in this case Pope Francis? Explain.
Media literacy: Scan several news headlines about Pope Francis' passing and the legacy he leaves behind. Take a look at outlets like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Axios, Fox, ABC, CBS, CNN and Politico. You may want to use the Allsides.com media bias chart for additional sources. What types of headlines did you come across? Were they similar or different to the News Hour's coverage?
Take a look at this News Hour story of Catholics remembering and mourning Pope Francis. Next, take a look at A timeline of Pope Francis’ life by the Associated Press. What are some points on the the timeline that strike you as interesting or surprising? What aspects of Pope Francis' life would you like to learn more about? How could you find out what actions or statements by Francis were left off the timeline?
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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