Joshua McElwee (Vatican Correspondent for Reuters)

He had a style that was very gregarious, very outgoing, and was really known for wanting to open up the church to the modern world. Many people might remember that his first act as the Pope was to ask the people in Rome on his election in 2013 to pray for him and to bless him.

He's also the Pope known for opening up the church to being more welcoming to LGBTQ members, famously asking, when asked about a priest who was gay,

He's also the Pope known for opening up the church to being more welcoming to LGBTQ members, famously asking, when asked about a priest who was gay,

He's also the Pope known for opening up the church to being more welcoming to LGBTQ members, famously asking, when asked about a priest who was gay,

Pope Francis faced some pushback from cardinals who thought perhaps he was going too fast or perhaps had a more progressive view of the church. A few years ago, he allowed for priests to, on a case-by-case basis, offer blessings to people in same-sex unions. Obviously, the Catholic Church has a teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman, so that was controversial for some people.

Pope Francis faced some pushback from cardinals who thought perhaps he was going too fast or perhaps had a more progressive view of the church. A few years ago, he allowed for priests to, on a case-by-case basis, offer blessings to people in same-sex unions. Obviously, the Catholic Church has a teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman, so that was controversial for some people.

Pope Francis faced some pushback from cardinals who thought perhaps he was going too fast or perhaps had a more progressive view of the church. A few years ago, he allowed for priests to, on a case-by-case basis, offer blessings to people in same-sex unions. Obviously, the Catholic Church has a teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman, so that was controversial for some people.

Francis tried to emphasize that it was about blessing the individual person and not necessarily the same-sex union.

Francis tried to emphasize that it was about blessing the individual person and not necessarily the same-sex union.

Francis tried to emphasize that it was about blessing the individual person and not necessarily the same-sex union.

He acknowledged that climate change was real. He said the science was real. And he expressed concern about a world that was, in his words, becoming one of filth and ruin. He asked for the world's leaders to do more to stop climate change.

He acknowledged that climate change was real. He said the science was real. And he expressed concern about a world that was, in his words, becoming one of filth and ruin. He asked for the world's leaders to do more to stop climate change.

He acknowledged that climate change was real. He said the science was real. And he expressed concern about a world that was, in his words, becoming one of filth and ruin. He asked for the world's leaders to do more to stop climate change.

One of the last acts of his papacy, he wrote a letter to the U.S. bishops kind of rebuking some of President Trump's rhetoric and saying that migrants are not necessarily criminals. They are people who are seeking a better life, and the church has an obligation to help them and to not get drawn into political debates, but to be helpful to people who are in need.

One of the last acts of his papacy, he wrote a letter to the U.S. bishops kind of rebuking some of President Trump's rhetoric and saying that migrants are not necessarily criminals. They are people who are seeking a better life, and the church has an obligation to help them and to not get drawn into political debates, but to be helpful to people who are in need.

One of the last acts of his papacy, he wrote a letter to the U.S. bishops kind of rebuking some of President Trump's rhetoric and saying that migrants are not necessarily criminals. They are people who are seeking a better life, and the church has an obligation to help them and to not get drawn into political debates, but to be helpful to people who are in need.

For a large part of the Catholic population, I think people found Francis to be open. He also was someone who had a reputation for being humble. He had decided not to live in the apartment that the Pope normally lives in at the Vatican, which is part of a Renaissance palace. It's called the Apostolic Palace.

For a large part of the Catholic population, I think people found Francis to be open. He also was someone who had a reputation for being humble. He had decided not to live in the apartment that the Pope normally lives in at the Vatican, which is part of a Renaissance palace. It's called the Apostolic Palace.

For a large part of the Catholic population, I think people found Francis to be open. He also was someone who had a reputation for being humble. He had decided not to live in the apartment that the Pope normally lives in at the Vatican, which is part of a Renaissance palace. It's called the Apostolic Palace.

He had instead decided to live in a hotel at the Vatican, keeping just a couple of rooms, living a very simple life. And for many people in their lives, he might be seen as a figure who You know, they see every day or see every few days and might be thought of as a grandfather or an uncle. And watching him pass away has been a difficult process.