If you’ve been scrolling through your feed lately or caught a snippet of news from the Vatican, you might be a little confused. One minute you're seeing headlines about "Pope Francis," and the next, there’s talk of a "Pope Leo." It’s kinda a lot to keep track of, honestly.
The short answer is: No, Pope Francis is no longer the current pope. He passed away on April 21, 2025.
It feels weird to say it, right? For over a decade, the Argentinian Jesuit with the simple black shoes and the big heart for the marginalized was the face of the Catholic Church. But as of January 2026, the man in the white cassock is Pope Leo XIV. He’s the first-ever pope from the United States, and he’s already making some pretty massive waves in Rome.
The Current Pope: Who is Leo XIV?
So, who is this new guy? Basically, he was known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost before the white smoke went up. He was born in Chicago, which makes him the first American to ever hold the keys to St. Peter.
People who know him describe him as a "missionary at heart." He spent years in Peru, and you can really hear that in how he talks. He’s not some distant bureaucrat. He’s actually the second pope in a row from the Americas, which is a pretty huge shift for an institution that was Euro-centric for, well, basically forever.
He chose the name Leo XIV as a nod to Leo XIII. That’s important because Leo XIII was the pope who really started the Church’s modern focus on social justice and workers' rights during the Industrial Revolution. Our current Leo seems to think we’re in a similar "revolution" right now with AI and tech, and he’s already writing about it.
Why people are still asking is Pope Francis the current pope
It’s actually super common for people to stay stuck on the previous name. Why? Because Francis was a giant. He held the office from 2013 until 2025. That’s a long time! He was the first pope to take the name Francis, the first Jesuit, and the first from the Southern Hemisphere.
Also, the transition was a bit of a whirlwind.
- Francis had been dealing with some pretty serious health issues—double pneumonia and respiratory trouble—for months.
- He actually died on Easter Monday, which is a huge deal in the liturgical calendar.
- The conclave happened fast. By May 8, 2025, we had Leo XIV.
When a pope is that influential, his "shadow" stays around for a while. A lot of the big events Leo XIV has been doing lately were actually planned by Francis. For example, the 2025 Jubilee Year? That was Francis’s baby. Leo just had to cross the finish line.
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What happened to Pope Francis?
If you missed the news last year, it was a pretty emotional time in Rome. Francis was 88 years old. He’d lived with only part of one lung since he was a young man, and eventually, the complications just caught up with him. He spent the last few weeks of his life in the Gemelli Hospital, still trying to sign documents and govern from his hospital bed. Typical Francis, right? Never stopped working.
He made his last big public appearance on Easter Sunday 2025. He looked frail, sure, but he still gave that "Urbi et Orbi" blessing to the world. He died the next day at the Domus Sanctae Marthae—the simple guest house where he chose to live instead of the fancy Apostolic Palace.
Life under the new "American" Pope
Now that we’re into 2026, Leo XIV is finally starting to step out of the Francis shadow. Just this month, he called all the world's cardinals to Rome for a "consistory." It’s sort of a big strategy meeting.
He’s doing things a bit differently. While Francis was famous for his off-the-cuff remarks and "messy" style, Leo is a bit more restrained. He’s been spending more time at Castel Gandolfo (the papal summer residence) to get away from the Vatican drama.
But don't think he's a traditionalist who’s going to undo everything. Honestly, he’s kept a lot of the Francis reforms. He’s still talking about climate change, he’s still pushing for a "synodal" church (basically a church that listens more), and he’s been super vocal about the wars in Ukraine and Lebanon.
Surprising facts about the transition:
- The "Leo Effect": There’s a lot of talk about whether having an American pope will change things in the U.S. church, which has been pretty divided lately.
- The AI Encyclical: Rumor has it Leo is about to drop a major teaching document on Artificial Intelligence. He’s worried about how it affects human dignity.
- Franciscan Legacy: Even though he’s gone, the Vatican just announced 2026 will be a "Year of St. Francis" to honor the 800th anniversary of the saint's death. It’s a pretty cool way to bridge the gap between the two popes.
How the Papacy works now
It’s worth noting that the world of the Vatican looks different than it did even five years ago. Because Francis appointed so many cardinals from places like Africa, Asia, and South America, the "vibe" of the leadership is much more global. Leo XIV was elected by that diverse group, which is probably why a Chicago-born missionary with Peruvian citizenship ended up getting the job.
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If you’re trying to keep up with what’s happening right now, just look for the name Leo XIV. If you see "Francis," you’re likely looking at an archive, a retrospective, or maybe just a website that hasn't updated its SEO yet!
Actionable Insights for 2026:
- Check the official Vatican News site for the "Daily Bulletin" if you want to see what Leo XIV is actually saying today.
- Look for the "Year of St. Francis" events. If you’re a traveler or into history, there are going to be some massive pilgrimages to Assisi this year.
- Pay attention to the 2026 Peace Messages. Leo is making "unarmed and disarming peace" his main theme for this year, which is a pretty bold stance given everything happening globally.
The transition from Francis to Leo XIV marks the end of a very specific era. We’re moving from the "Pope of the Poor" to a pope who seems focused on navigating the messy intersection of faith and the high-tech, war-torn world of the mid-2020s. It's a new chapter, but the mission remains the same.