Pope Francis died on Easter Monday on the age of 88 after battling a severe bout of double pneumonia.
Regardless of his sickness, his dying got here as a shock after he had been pushed round St. Peter’s Sq. to greet cheering crowds on Easter Sunday.
“Expensive brothers and sisters, it’s with profound disappointment I need to announce the dying 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 yr’s Easter providers a day earlier than his dying, was the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the primary from the Americas, the primary Jesuit, and the primary pontiff born exterior 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 actually hits you onerous,” Rome resident Emanuela Tinari advised Reuters. “He was a pope who introduced so many individuals nearer to the church. He was not appreciated by everybody. However he positively was by bizarre folks.”
Tributes have additionally been pouring in for the late pontiff from leaders all over the world.
Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed a assertion saying Francis “loved nice worldwide authority as a devoted servant of Christian instructing, a clever 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 the way to give hope, ease struggling via 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 assist. Everlasting reminiscence!”
‘Painful And Shameful’ — Pope Francis On The Ukraine Battle
Pope Francis, who died on April 21, Easter Monday, didn’t ship his remaining annual Angelus tackle in individual.
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 battle was “maybe one way or the other 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 Reality Social put up. “Might God Bless him and all who beloved 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 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 tens of millions of Christians everywhere in the world who beloved him.”
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned “the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis,” including that “he impressed tens of millions, far past the Catholic Church, along 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 dying, saying that he had “tirelessly promoted compassion and social justice” and “led with love, stood by the susceptible, and referred to 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 susceptible 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 dying.
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 international ministry spokesman voiced disappointment over Francis’s dying, saying that he supplied “condolences to all Christians all over the world.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned Francis was “a religious chief who gave significance to dialogue between totally different religion teams and took the initiative within the face of humanitarian tragedies, particularly the Palestinian challenge 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 Centered 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 coming 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 deal with mercy, social justice, and environmental stewardship.
In 2015, Pope Francis issued the encyclical “Laudato si’,” calling for world motion on local weather change and look after the setting.
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 totally different faiths.
‘A Poor Church For The Poor’
Pope Francis was identified for his pastoral method, advocating for a “poor Church for the poor” and reaching out to marginalized communities.
He made efforts to reform the Vatican’s monetary techniques 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 stomach surgical procedure to restore a hernia. He additionally skilled continual knee and again ache, usually 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 complicated, requiring an prolonged hospital keep. He had been discharged from hospital on March 23.