Pope Francis championed historically progressive stances
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Pope Francis holds his homily during the Wednesday General Audience at the Paul VI Hall in November 2023 in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo: Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images
In his decade-plus tenure in the Vatican, Pope Francis, who died on Monday, advanced several progressive causes within the Catholic Church from immigrant and LGBTQ+ rights to climate change and technology ethics.
Why it matters: His advocacy often clashed with the church's more conservative wing, particularly after the pontiff criticized conservative theologians' "suicidal attitude" toward social change.
State of play: Francis aimed to give women more leadership roles in church governance. In January, he named the first woman to head a major Vatican office.
Read more about positions he's held on major world subjects:
Climate change
Francis was outspoken against climate change and casted blame on wealthy countries for global warming.
- "Unfortunately, we've gotten to a point of no return," he said in a 2024 CBS News interview.
- "It's sad, but that's what it is. Global warming is a serious problem. Climate change at this moment is a road to death."
Flashback: Francis in 2015 called pollution a sin and cited a moral obligation for international agreements to combat the effects of global warming, per the Washington Post.
LGBTQ+ people
Francis expanded the church's acceptance of same-sex couples and transgender people.
- In 2023, Francis granted priests the ability to bless same-sex couples under certain circumstances.
- This rule change didn't alter the church's doctrine concerning same-sex marriage, holding that the blessings cannot be given at the same time as a civil union and can't resemble weddings in any way.
- He said laws that criminalized homosexuality were "unjust."
He also decided transgender people could be baptized within the Catholic Church and serve as godparents.
Yes, but: In May, he apologized after reports surfaced that he used a slur to refer to gay men in a closed-door meetings.
Immigration and world issues
Francis criticized the Trump administration in January and February for its plans to carry out mass deportations of migrants.
- He condemned "deporting people who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution or serious deterioration of the environment ..."
He called for an investigation into whether Israel's military actions in Gaza legally constituted genocide, criticized Israel's attacks on Palestinians, and kept in regular touch with the parish priest of Gaza.
Tech ethics
He urged caution around artificial intelligence, calling it "a fascinating tool and also a terrifying one" during the Group of Seven meeting in 2024.
- In 2023, he said advancements in technology should not leave vulnerable people behind.
Go deeper: Pope jabs Vance, criticizes Trump admin for mass deportations
