In Shakespearean terms you could say "The Pope is dead. Long live the Pope," because while Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88, his legacy will live on.
Many point to Francis as having a lasting impression on the sense of mercy in religion, kindness, inclusion. But he also played a role in the United State's ever more tumultuous brand of politics when he sparred with President Donald Trump. While other Popes have been in partnership with American leadership, many pundits noted Francis was more of an antagonist.
Massimo Faggioli, a professor of theology at Villanova University said "He interrupted a long period of an extremely friendly relationship between the popes and the United States.”
As Robert Hogan, chairman of the political science department at Louisiana State University, said on WWL Radio in New Orleans, the Pope is not only a religious leader, but a political leader as well, which was especially true in Francis' case. But it's also been the case throughout history.
"When you look at Pope John Paul II during the Reagan administration those two formed a very close bond in part because there was a united front against the Soviet Union and the iron curtain and attempting to open up freedom in the world," Hogan said.
"Pope Francis had, I think, a very different relationship with American Presidents, certainly in terms of of policy goals in recent years, certainly in recent months."
Notably, one of the Pope's final meetings was with Vice President JD Vance after he openly criticized Vance and President Donald Trump's hardline approach to immigration. His final message touched on the themes he'll be most remembered for.
"He said how much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized, and the migrants," Hogan recalled. "He was outspoken on this issue of how those that are the poorest and the most marginalized in society are treated. And he took great issue with the way the Trump administration's stance was towards towards migrants and was outspoken on that issue so it didn't necessarily match the interest of the American president at the time."
A few months ago, the Pope publicly admonished JD Vance, who is a Catholic, with teachings in regard to demarginalized and it ended with what Hogan described as a "sort of a public spat between between the two of them." The Pope called the Trump-Vance deportation effort "a disgrace."
"It's all the basic fundamental issue about immigrants -- How do you treat those who are least among us in terms of their luck in their access to wealth and power. The pope certainly stood on the side of the of the marginalized in society."
The dispute between Francis and the Trump administration highlights a truth about politics. And that's that religion and capitalism don't often play nice together.
"I mean, there is a disconnect, sometimes there's a conflict, and so those are things that people have to grapple with in balancing their faith and their politics," Hogan said.
As he left their brief Easter meeting, “I pray for you every day,” Vance told Pope Francis. “God bless you.”