The impact of Pope Francis’ papacy upon Catholic marriage and family life will be extensively studied, debated and commentated upon in the weeks following his death on April 21.

Pope Francis’ approach to key issues including his concern for the environment, immigration and abortion did not fit neatly into American political ideologies, Catholic political and theology experts told OSV News.

Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis, who died April 21 at the age of 88, faced the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church, attempting to balance defending the church from criticism while showing compassion toward survivors, with often mixed results.

This basilica, rebuilt and magnificently adorned over the centuries, has been a rallying point for popes and laypeople, for Romans and pilgrims alike, to venerate the maternity and life of the Blessed Mother.

The Keatings were among many Catholics in the U.S. who shared tributes in the hours after Pope Francis’ death from a stroke and heart failure, after struggling to overcome a respiratory illness that led to a five-week hospitalization in February and March.