Vatican City – April 21, 2025 — The Vatican has confirmed the death of Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, who passed away peacefully on Easter Monday at 7:35 a.m., at his residence in Casa Santa Marta.
His passing was formally announced at 9:45 a.m. by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, who declared:
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis… 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.”
The Pope had been battling declining health in recent months. He was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on February 14, 2025, suffering from bronchitis, which later progressed to bilateral pneumonia by February 18. After spending 38 days in hospital, he returned to the Vatican to recuperate, but his health never fully recovered.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, underwent lung surgery in 1957, removing part of a lung due to a serious respiratory infection. Though he lived a long and active life, he continued to suffer from respiratory challenges, notably cancelling several international trips in his final years, including a visit to the United Arab Emirates in 2023.
A Life of Simplicity, Service, and Solidarity
Pope Francis will be remembered as a deeply pastoral pope who emphasized mercy, humility, and care for the marginalized. From his first appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in 2013—greeting the world simply with “Buona sera”—to his powerful gestures like washing the feet of prisoners and advocating for migrants and the poor, he redefined the image of the modern pontiff.
He was the first Jesuit Pope, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years. His choice of the name “Francis” — in honor of St. Francis of Assisi — signaled his commitment to peace, poverty, and environmental stewardship.
Final Rites and Farewell
In April 2024, Pope Francis had approved an updated liturgical guide for papal funeral rites — a document now poignantly relevant. The revised Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis places emphasis on the pope as a pastor and disciple, rather than a sovereign. As part of these updated rites, his body was moved to the chapel immediately after death and placed inside the coffin.
Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, confirmed that the late Pope requested simplified funeral arrangements, focused on Christian hope in the resurrection rather than earthly grandeur.
“The renewed rite seeks to emphasize even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ, and not of a powerful person of this world,” said Ravelli.
The Road Ahead
With the pope’s passing, the Camerlengo assumes interim administrative duties, and preparations are underway for the College of Cardinals to convene a conclave to elect the next Bishop of Rome. Until then, the See of Peter is vacant.
As the world mourns the loss of one of the most transformative religious leaders of the 21st century, millions of Catholics and admirers across the globe will reflect on Pope Francis’ enduring legacy—his compassion, reformist zeal, and deep faith in a Church for the poor and of the poor.
