Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 following complications arising from pneumonia, the Vatican has confirmed.
A month after reports emerged that he had been hospitalised with a serious respiratory condition, the Vatican issued a statement, announcing his passing.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, formally announced the death of Pope Francis at the Casa Santa Marta.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” Cardinal Farrell declared.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
The passing of the Supreme Pontiff comes shortly after his public appearance on Easter Sunday, when he delivered the “Urbi et Orbi” message and blessing from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica. Thousands gathered in Vatican Square to hear the Pope’s address, in which he made a passionate plea for world peace, disarmament, and the release of prisoners.
Despite visibly frail health, the Holy Father had mustered the strength to offer the traditional blessing — bestowed only by the Pope — which carries with it a plenary indulgence for those who receive it.
“Christ is risen! These words capture the entire meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life,” the official X handle of the Pope proclaimed on Sunday, echoing the spirit of the late Pontiff’s enduring message of hope.
Cardinal Angelo Comastri, Archpriest emeritus of Saint Peter's Basilica and Vicar General emeritus of Vatican City, led the liturgy in St Peter's Square, delivering the homily written by Pope Francis for the Easter celebration, as reported by Vatican News.
Pope Francis had been discharged only recently from Rome's Gemelli Hospital after a prolonged five-week stay. He had been receiving treatment for an infection that developed into double pneumonia — the latest in a series of health concerns that had increasingly limited his public engagements.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, he was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1969. A member of the Society of Jesus, Bergoglio rose through the ecclesiastical ranks and was created a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001.
He became the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013, following the historic resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. His election marked several milestones: the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit to ascend the papacy, and the first non-European pontiff since Gregory III in the 8th century.
He chose the papal name Francis in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi, signalling his commitment to humility, social justice, and care for the environment.
Throughout his papacy, Francis championed the cause of the poor, refugees, and those living on the margins, calling on the Church to be “a field hospital after battle.”
His emphasis on mercy, inclusion, and synodality reshaped the global Church’s tone on contentious issues, even as doctrinal positions remained unchanged. Known for shunning papal opulence, he chose to live in a modest Vatican guesthouse rather than the Apostolic Palace and carried his own luggage on official trips.
With Pope Francis's demise, the Vatican will now observe a fourteen-day period of official mourning. Following this, the College of Cardinals will enter into conclave to elect the next Bishop of Rome, known also as the Vicar of Christ.
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