Pope Francis has left this world—then it’s not just the end of a papacy, but the end of one of the most controversial chapters in the history of the Catholic Church.
Now, let’s address the uncomfortable question floating in the minds of many: where is he going—heaven or hellfire?
For a man who led over a billion Catholics globally, this question carries weight. But it’s also a distraction if we don’t first assess the fruit of his leadership. Because before God decides his eternal destination, history will judge his earthly one.
Under Pope Francis, the Catholic Church went through a massive ideological shift. He was branded “progressive” by some, “heretic” by others. He opened the door to conversations once deemed forbidden in Catholicism—about LGBTQ rights, same-sex blessings, divorced couples receiving communion, and even climate change. He met with atheists and Muslims, kissed the feet of African leaders, and challenged capitalism head-on.
To his admirers, he was Christ-like—humble, merciful, and radically inclusive.
But to his critics, especially within conservative Catholic circles, he was a man who diluted doctrine, weakened tradition, and turned the Holy See into a liberal NGO. They argue that the Church under Francis became soft on sin and heavy on political correctness. The altar was no longer sacred, they say—it became a stage.
So back to the question: Heaven or Hell?
If you’re judging by conservative doctrine, some will say Francis flirted with apostasy. If you’re judging by the Gospels—love your neighbor, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked—he might just be the most Christ-like Pope in modern memory.
But here’s the thing: it’s not our call. Only God sees the full ledger. But what we can say is this: Pope Francis left the Church deeply shaken, deeply changed, and deeply divided. Whether that’s good or bad depends on what kind of Catholic—or what kind of human—you are.
Heaven or hellfire? We don’t know. But one thing is certain—Francis didn’t leave the Church the way he found it. And maybe, just maybe, that was his divine assignment.
By: Godwin Offor
