The Vatican has announced the passing of Pope Francis, the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church, who died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. The pontiff passed away at 7:35 am at his residence in the Casa Santa Marta within Vatican City, following complications related to a prolonged illness.
The Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, confirmed the pontiff’s death in a solemn announcement to the global Catholic community.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” said Cardinal Farrell.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church… especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.”
Final Days and Health Struggles
Pope Francis had been battling health challenges for years, many of which intensified in recent months. He was hospitalised for 38 days at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital, beginning on February 14, 2025, following a serious episode of bronchitis. His condition later worsened, with doctors diagnosing bilateral pneumonia on February 18.
After being discharged in late March, the pontiff returned to his Vatican residence to continue his recovery, but his condition remained fragile.
This is not the first time Pope Francis had battled lung issues. In 1957, in his early twenties, Jorge Mario Bergoglio—as he was then known—underwent surgery in Argentina to remove part of a lung affected by a respiratory infection. As he aged, recurring health issues plagued his papacy. In 2023, he was forced to cancel a scheduled visit to the United Arab Emirates due to influenza and lung inflammation.
Final Public Appearance
Remarkably, Pope Francis made his final public appearance just hours before his passing—on Easter Sunday, when he greeted thousands of Catholic faithful gathered at the Vatican for Easter Mass. His words and presence offered a brief but powerful moment of spiritual connection, now regarded as a farewell.
Funeral Arrangements and Simpler Rites
While details of the funeral Mass are yet to be announced, preparations had long been in motion. In April 2024, Pope Francis approved a revised edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the liturgical guidebook for papal funerals.
The updated rite includes changes to how the body of the Pope is handled after death. The ascertainment of death takes place in the chapel—not in the room where the pope dies—and the body is immediately placed inside the coffin.
Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, revealed that Pope Francis had requested a simplified funeral, focused not on grandeur, but on the faith of the Church in the Resurrection of Christ.
“The renewed rite seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ—not of a powerful person of this world,” Ravelli said.
Legacy of a Humble Shepherd
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis made history in 2013 as the first Jesuit pope, the first pope from the Americas, and the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years. His papacy was defined by humility, social justice, interfaith dialogue, and an unwavering focus on the marginalised.
From washing the feet of prisoners to confronting global leaders on climate change and inequality, Pope Francis became a symbol of the Church’s outreach to the modern world.
As the world mourns his passing, Pope Francis is remembered not only as a religious leader but also as a moral voice who sought to guide the Catholic Church through times of transformation and turmoil—with compassion, courage, and grace.
