Pope Francis Dies at 88 on Easter Monday
Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the first pontiff from Latin America, passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88.
Vatican City, April 21, 2025 — Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the first pontiff from Latin America, passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88. The announcement was made at 9:45 a.m. by Cardinal Kevin Farrell from the Casa Santa Marta, where the pope had been residing during his illness.
"At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father," Cardinal Farrell said. “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church.”
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis was elected pope in March 2013. A Jesuit, he was widely regarded for his humble lifestyle, social advocacy, and efforts to reform the Vatican bureaucracy. His papacy emphasized compassion, environmental stewardship, and solidarity with the poor.
Pope Francis had been battling health issues for years, stemming from a partial lung removal in his youth. In February, he was hospitalized with bronchitis, which later developed into bilateral pneumonia. He returned to the Vatican after 38 days in hospital but succumbed to his illness on April 21.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been publicly confirmed, though it is expected that the rites will follow the simplified format the late pontiff approved in 2024. The College of Cardinals will now prepare for a conclave to elect the next pope, with speculation already beginning around potential successors.
World leaders have begun expressing their condolences, remembering Pope Francis as a spiritual leader who sought to modernize the Church while upholding the values of mercy, peace, and justice.
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