The 5 Most Shocking And Significant Photos Of The Pope In 2025: From Final Farewells To A New Pontiff

The year 2025 has been an unprecedented period for the papacy, marked by a historic transition that captivated the world and generated some of the most emotionally resonant and technologically controversial images in modern Church history. From the solemn, final photographs of a beloved pontiff to the striking, convention-breaking first portrait of his successor, the visual narrative surrounding the Holy See has never been more intense or scrutinized.

The sudden shift in leadership following Pope Francis’s passing in April 2025—a moment captured in poignant, official Vatican releases—immediately thrust the spotlight onto a new era of papal photography. This article delves into the five most significant and widely discussed photos of the Pope from the current year, providing a unique look at the images that defined a year of monumental change for the Roman Catholic Church.

Biography and Profile of the Late Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio)

The pontiff whose final images dominate the early part of 2025 was Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio. His life and ministry set a tone of humility and reform that profoundly impacted the visual representation of the papacy.

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• Secular Name: Jorge Mario Bergoglio
• Born: December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Parents: Mario José Bergoglio (railway worker) and Regina María Sívori (Italian immigrants)
• Ordination: December 13, 1969 (Priest)
• Cardinal: Created Cardinal on February 21, 2001, by Pope John Paul II
• Papal Election: Elected the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013
• Papal Name: Francis, chosen in honor of St. Francis of Assisi
• Death: April 21, 2025, in Vatican City, at the age of 88
• Key Encyclicals: Laudato Si’ (on the environment) and Fratelli Tutti (on fraternity and social friendship)

His papacy was characterized by a focus on social justice, poverty, and environmental issues. Throughout his tenure, the Pope's image often strayed from the traditional, formal portraits, frequently capturing him in moments of genuine, unscripted connection with the faithful—a visual legacy that makes his final, formal photos all the more striking.

1. The Solemn Final Photos of Pope Francis in Repose

The most impactful images of the first half of 2025 were the official photographs released by the Vatican Press Office following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025. These photos marked a profound moment of transition for the global Catholic community.

The images showed the late pontiff lying in repose, a traditional rite, dressed in red papal vestments, including a red chasuble and a simple white miter. The official photographs captured Vatican officials paying their respects before the body was transferred for public viewing.

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These photos were significant not just as a historical record, but as a visual symbol of the end of a transformative era. They were shared globally on April 22, 2025, and became a focal point for media coverage and a source of deep mourning for millions of Catholics worldwide. The clarity and solemnity of the images contrasted sharply with the more casual, often joyful photographs that defined much of his active papacy.

2. The Viral AI Deepfake: The Pope in a Puffer Jacket

While not a "real" photo, the AI-generated image of Pope Francis wearing a stylish, white Balenciaga-style puffer jacket became one of the most talked-about "photos of pope" in recent history. The image circulated widely in March 2023 (and continued to be discussed well into 2025), fooling millions who believed the pontiff had adopted a surprisingly modern, street-style look.

The photo was created using the artificial intelligence tool Midjourney. It was a watershed moment, highlighting the alarming realism of AI deepfakes and creating a widespread crisis of trust in digital content. The image was so convincing that even experienced journalists and public figures were temporarily duped.

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This viral image is a crucial entity in the topical authority of papal photography, as it represents the intersection of faith, fashion, and technology. It forced a global conversation about media literacy and the challenge of distinguishing genuine Vatican releases from sophisticated digital fabrications. The controversy surrounding this image continued to be a reference point even after his death, underscoring the power of a single, fake photo to dominate the narrative.

3. The First Official Portrait of Pope Leo XIV

The election of the 267th Pope, Leo XIV, on May 8, 2025, following the papal conclave, brought a fresh set of official photography into the spotlight. The new pontiff, born Robert Francis Prevost, was elected on the fourth ballot.

The Vatican released the first official pontifical portrait of Pope Leo XIV on May 16, 2025. This portrait was highly anticipated and quickly analyzed for any subtle shifts in papal imagery. The photos showed Pope Leo XIV in traditional papal regalia, offering a sense of continuity after the dramatic events of the preceding weeks.

Pope Leo XIV, a former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is the first American-born pontiff. His official portrait, therefore, carries immense symbolic weight, representing a new geographical and cultural chapter for the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church. The image, often showing him with a slight smile and looking directly at the viewer, was interpreted by many as a break from some of the more austere official photos of the past, signaling a new era of openness and unity.

4. Pope Francis's Last Public Appearance Photo

A deeply moving photo that gained significant traction was the image of Pope Francis's last public appearance, shortly before his passing. One such widely circulated image captured him outside of Rome's Gemelli hospital in March 2025, following a brief hospitalization. Another showed his final blessing from the Vatican balcony.

These photographs are powerful because they capture the fragility and enduring dedication of the elderly pontiff in his final weeks. The image of him concelebrating Mass or offering a final blessing, released by the Vatican Press Office, served as a painful reminder of his declining health but also his commitment to his ministry until the very end. The high-resolution nature of modern papal photography ensured these moments were captured with an intimacy that previous generations of pontiffs rarely experienced.

5. Pope Leo XIV's "Regina Coeli" Balcony Debut

The first public photographs of Pope Leo XIV addressing the faithful from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, specifically during the midday recitation of the "Regina Coeli," immediately became iconic. These images are fundamental to the visual record of the papal transition.

These photos, taken just days after his election, captured the moment of introduction of the new Bishop of Rome to the world. The sheer scale of the crowd in St. Peter's Square, visible below the balcony, provided a stunning backdrop to the new pontiff’s debut. The photographs are not just about the man, but about the institution and the continuity of the Petrine ministry.

In contrast to the somber final images of his predecessor, these photos of Pope Leo XIV are filled with the excitement and hope of a new beginning. They are a visual testament to the tradition of the conclave and the immediate, universal recognition of the new leader of the Church. The composition of these photos—the small figure of the Pope against the vastness of the Basilica and the sea of people—is a powerful symbol of his new role as the 267th successor of St. Peter.

The Enduring Topical Authority of Papal Imagery

The collection of photos from 2025—from the final moments of Pope Francis to the first appearances of Pope Leo XIV—underscore the critical role of photography in modern religious and global affairs. The images serve as historical documents, emotional touchstones, and, increasingly, as subjects of digital scrutiny. The topical authority surrounding "photos of pope" now encompasses elements of Vatican protocol, media authenticity, and the global impact of papal messaging.

The transition documented this year has provided a wealth of fresh entities and keywords for those studying the papacy: *papal succession*, *conclave photography*, *official pontifical portrait*, *papal regalia*, *Robert Francis Prevost*, *Jorge Mario Bergoglio*, and the ever-present issue of *AI deepfakes*. These images will be studied for years to come, not just for their content but for the story they tell about a Church in transition in the digital age.