Pope Francis, the 266th and first Latin American pope of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. He passed away at 7:35 a.m. CEST in his apartment in the Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City, following a prolonged illness which included a recent hospitalization for double pneumonia.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, Pope Francis was chosen pope in March of 2013 after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European pontiff in over a thousand years.
His reign is noted as one of his embracing humility, social justice, and reform. The rather frugal lifestyle that he maintained had him opting to reside in the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse instead of the traditional Apostolic Palace. Compassion and open-mindedness were his mantra, reaching out to the poor, urging action to address climate change, and urging interfaith dialogue.
Pope Francis, early in 2025, also had critical health problems among them a bout of double pneumonia which led to a 38-day hospitalization. Despite falling ill, he remained active and delivered his last public blessing on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, from St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Vatican announced his death in a press release by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. World leaders and the faithful worldwide have sent their condolences, applauding his devotion to the Church and his efforts to address contemporary global issues.
Funeral arrangements are underway, with the hope that traditional rituals will be observed, such as a lying in state and funeral mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. A papal conclave to elect his successor is likely to begin in early May 2025.
Pope Francis’s legacy continues through his profound impact on the Catholic Church and his unwavering commitment to a more loving and accepting world.
