Pontiff served 12 years at helm of Catholic Church.
Pope Francis passed away in the Vatican on 21 April, Easter Monday, at the age of 88.
The heartbreaking news was delivered by Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” Farrell announced.
“He showed us how to embody the values of the Gospel with faith, bravery, and universal love, especially for the most vulnerable and marginalized.”
“With deep gratitude for his example as a genuine follower of the Lord Jesus, we entrust the soul of Pope Francis to the boundless, merciful love of God, One and Triune.”
Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. pic.twitter.com/jUIkbplVi2
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) April 21, 2025
The Argentinian pontiff spent five weeks in the hospital fighting double pneumonia before his passing.
His final public appearance was on Easter Sunday at St. Peter’s, where he wished the crowd a happy Easter and toured the square in the popemobile.
Francis led as pope for nearly 12 years, starting from his election on 13 March 2013 after the surprising resignation of his predecessor Benedict XVI.
The pope, who underwent a partial lung removal in his 20s and battled health issues for many years, was admitted to the Gemelli on 14 February.
In recent times, the pontiff had been hospitalized multiple times at the Gemelli, receiving treatment in a 10th-floor suite exclusively reserved for popes.
The pope’s passing occurred during the Vatican’s Jubilee Year, a significant religious event held in Rome every 25 years.
This is a developing news story…
Photo credit: Riccardo De Luca – Update / Shutterstock.com.
