The Vatican has announced the passing of Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics worldwide.
He died peacefully at 7:35 a.m. local time (05:35 GMT) on Friday, April 18, 2025, at his Vatican residence, the Casa Santa Marta. He was 88.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, made the official declaration at 9:45 a.m., saying:
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church… 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.”
Pope Francis’ death follows a prolonged battle with respiratory illness. He had been admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on February 14, 2025, after struggling with bronchitis. By February 18, doctors diagnosed him with bilateral pneumonia, a severe condition affecting both lungs.
Despite intensive treatment, his condition remained fragile. After 38 days in hospital, he was discharged in late March to continue his recovery at home. However, his health never fully rebounded.
Just days before his passing, the Pope made a public appearance at St Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, offering blessings to the faithful—an image now etched as his final farewell to the world.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina in 1936, Pope Francis rose from humble beginnings to lead the global Church with a message of humility, compassion, and social justice. At age 21, he underwent lung surgery after a serious infection—an ailment that would haunt him later in life.
Since becoming pope in 2013, he was known for rejecting papal opulence, championing the marginalised, advocating for interfaith dialogue, and calling for bold climate action. His pontificate emphasised mercy over judgement and action over words.
In April 2024, Pope Francis personally approved a revised edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the Church’s official liturgical text for papal funerals. The new rites reflect his long-standing desire for simplicity and humility in death.
According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Pope wished for a funeral “focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ” rather than the grandeur traditionally associated with papal burials.
Key updates include:
- The Pope’s death being formally confirmed in a chapel rather than in his room.
- His body to be immediately placed in the coffin without excessive ceremony.
- An emphasis on the Pope as a pastor and disciple rather than a figure of worldly power.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be officially announced. The Vatican is expected to release a full schedule of mourning events, including public viewing, Masses, and the funeral rite itself—likely to draw millions of faithful and dignitaries from around the world.
As bells toll across the Vatican and flags are lowered, Catholics everywhere mourn the loss of a beloved shepherd—one who walked with the poor, spoke truth to power, and never ceased to call the Church to its deepest mission: love.
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