Pope Francis died on Easter Monday on the age of 88 after battling a critical bout of double pneumonia.
Regardless of his sickness, his demise got here as a shock after he had been pushed round St. Peter’s Sq. to greet cheering crowds on Easter Sunday.
“Pricey brothers and sisters, it’s with profound unhappiness I need to announce the demise of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell introduced on the Vatican’s TV channel on April 21.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father,” he mentioned.
Francis, who had additionally delivered a blessing at this 12 months’s Easter providers a day earlier than his demise, was the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the primary from the Americas, the primary Jesuit, and the primary pontiff born outdoors Europe in over a millennium.
On the Vatican, locals, vacationers, and pilgrims visiting for Easter expressed their shock and grief.
“That is one thing that basically hits you laborious,” Rome resident Emanuela Tinari instructed Reuters. “He was a pope who introduced so many individuals nearer to the church. He was not appreciated by everybody. However he undoubtedly was by strange folks.”
Tributes have additionally been pouring in for the late pontiff from leaders around the globe.
Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed a assertion saying Francis “loved nice worldwide authority as a trustworthy servant of Christian educating, a smart non secular statesman, and a constant defender of the excessive values of humanism and justice.”
“All through his preach, he actively contributed to the event of dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church buildings, in addition to constructive interplay between Russia and the Holy See,” he mentioned.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy additionally praised the pope’s tenure, describing the pontiff as somebody who “knew learn how to give hope, ease struggling by means of prayer, and foster unity.”
“He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians,” he added. “We grieve along with Catholics and all Christians who regarded to Pope Francis for religious help. Everlasting reminiscence!”
‘Painful And Shameful’ — Pope Francis On The Ukraine Conflict
Pope Francis, who died on April 21, Easter Monday, didn’t ship his closing annual Angelus tackle in particular person.
However the textual content of his tackle mentioned the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24 was “a painful and shameful event for all of humanity.”
He went on to voice “solidarity with the martyred Ukrainian folks.”
The Pontiff’s death-bed assertion was his final try to present the Vatican a voice within the battle.
Whereas he was clearly sympathetic to the plight of Ukrainians, Pope Francis’ earlier interventions weren’t all the time welcomed by Kyiv.
He raised explicit ire in March 2024 by calling on Ukraine to seek out “the braveness of the white flag” to enter peace talks with Russia.
He later mentioned that the “first situation” for peace was that Russia “put an finish to its aggression.” However earlier, his avoidance of particular criticism of Russia was a reason for frustration.
In June 2022, he condemned the “cruelty” of Russian forces whereas additionally suggesting the conflict was “maybe by some means provoked.”
This echoed a Kremlin argument, repeatedly made with out proof, that it was compelled to assault.
— By Ray Furlong, senior worldwide correspondent
“Relaxation in Peace Pope Francis!” US President Donald Trump mentioned in a Fact Social put up. “Might God Bless him and all who liked him!”
Trump introduced afterward the identical social media platform that he and first girl Melania Trump would attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome.
Trump’s predecessor additionally praised Frances on social media. “He promoted fairness and an finish to poverty and struggling throughout the globe,” mentioned Joe Biden, himself a religious Roman Catholic.
US Vice President JD Vance, who met with the pontiff on April 20, mentioned his coronary heart “goes out to the thousands and thousands of Christians all around the world who liked him.”
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned “the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis,” including that “he impressed thousands and thousands, far past the Catholic Church, together with his humility and love so pure for the much less lucky.”
Moldovan President Maia Sandu additionally expressed remorse on the information of Francis’s demise, saying that he had “tirelessly promoted compassion and social justice” and “led with love, stood by the weak, and known as for unity in instances of division.”
Her feedback have been echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who mentioned the pope had been “a person of humility, on the aspect of probably the most weak and probably the most fragile.”
Incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz mentioned Francis could be remembered for his “tireless dedication to the weakest in society.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer tweeted that he was “deeply saddened” by Francis’s demise.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban responded to the information with a brief a Fb put up that included an image of him with the late pontiff. “Thanks for every thing, Holy Father,” he mentioned. “We bid you farewell.”
An Iranian overseas ministry spokesman voiced unhappiness over Francis’s demise, saying that he supplied “condolences to all Christians around the globe.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned Francis was “a religious chief who gave significance to dialogue between completely different religion teams and took the initiative within the face of humanitarian tragedies, particularly the Palestinian situation and the genocide in Gaza.”
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, and Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic additionally posted tributes to the pope.
A Papacy Targeted On Social Justice
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the son of Italian immigrants in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis labored as a chemical technician earlier than getting into the Jesuits in 1958.
He was ordained a priest in 1969 and have become the provincial superior of the Jesuits in Argentina from 1973 to 1979.
In 1998, he was appointed archbishop of Buenos Aires. Three years later, he was elevated to the School of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II.
Elected Pope in 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, he selected the title Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, reflecting his dedication to humility and the poor.
His papacy was marked by a give attention to mercy, social justice, and environmental stewardship.
In 2015, Pope Francis issued the encyclical “Laudato si’,” calling for international motion on local weather change and look after the surroundings.
He additionally emphasised interfaith dialogue, notably signing the Doc on Human Fraternity with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in Egypt, Ahmed el-Tayeb, in 2019, a landmark settlement selling peace and coexistence amongst completely different faiths.
‘A Poor Church For The Poor’
Pope Francis was recognized for his pastoral strategy, advocating for a “poor Church for the poor” and reaching out to marginalized communities.
He made efforts to reform the Vatican’s monetary programs and tackle alleged clerical sexual abuse throughout the church.
In 2025, he revealed his autobiography, “Hope,” providing insights into his life and papal mission.
In his later years, Pope Francis confronted a number of well being challenges.
In 2021, he underwent colon surgical procedure to handle diverticulitis, and in 2023, he had belly surgical procedure to restore a hernia. He additionally skilled persistent knee and again ache, typically utilizing a wheelchair for mobility.
Regardless of these points, he maintained a rigorous schedule, persevering with his pastoral duties and worldwide travels.
In early 2025, Pope Francis was hospitalized with a polymicrobial respiratory tract an infection, which developed into double pneumonia. His situation remained advanced, requiring an prolonged hospital keep. He had been discharged from hospital on March 23.