Pope Francis Dies at 88 on Easter Monday

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. The Vatican confirmed his death after Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced it at 9:45 a.m. local time.

“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 stated. “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 favor of the poorest and most marginalized.”

Pope Francis was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on February 14, 2025, after suffering from bronchitis. His condition deteriorated, leading to a diagnosis of bilateral pneumonia. Following 38 days in the hospital, he returned to the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery.

Known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio before his papacy, Pope Francis underwent lung surgery in Argentina in 1957 due to a severe respiratory infection. His health issues persisted throughout his papacy, including a cancellation of a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 because of influenza and lung inflammation.

In a significant piece of guidance for his funeral, Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites in April 2024. This revised edition significantly altered how a pope’s remains are handled post-mortem. According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the late pope requested the funeral rites be simplified to focus on the expression of faith.

“The renewed rite seeks to emphasize even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ,” Archbishop Ravelli said.

In his death announcement, Cardinal Farrell expressed immense gratitude for the late pontiff’s example, saying, “We commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

Tributes to Pope Francis began pouring in immediately. French President Emmanuel Macron called him a “man of humility, on the side of the most vulnerable and most fragile.”

Just a day before his death, Pope Francis had participated in Easter Sunday Mass, addressing thousands gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica, where he greeted well-wishers from his wheelchair. He had conveyed Easter messages and blessings, signaling his commitment to the pastoral duties even amid declining health.

Pope Francis’s papacy was known for its emphasis on compassion, outreach to marginalized populations, and interfaith dialogue. He was widely recognized for his inaugural call for help from the faithful when he first emerged as pope in March 2013. “I want to ask you a favor,” he famously said, reversing the customary practice of papal blessings.

Born in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrant parents in 1936, he rose through the ranks of the Church, becoming the first pope from the Americas. He was elected in 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI’s historic resignation. His commitment to simplicity and inclusivity marked a new era for the papacy.

Pope Francis’s legacy includes fervent advocacy against climate change, consumerism, and social injustice. He published significant encyclicals and served as a voice for those often ignored by society. Throughout his time, he balanced a vision for a more open Church in an increasingly secular world.

As preparations begin for his funeral rites, the Catholic community mourns the loss of a leader who transformed the role of the pope and redefined the relationship between the Church and modernity.