Pope Francis “returned to the home of the Father.”
He died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, served as the 266th pope.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,″ Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said.
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.
“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 God, One and Tribune.″
Vatican revealed the cause of Pope Francis’ death was a stroke and a heart failure. The pontiff suffered health issues since February, when he was admitted to the hospital where he stayed for 38 days, longest during his 12 years of service.
The news of his passing prompted an outpouring of grief from Catholics across the globe.
On Sunday, he greeted crowds at the Easter Sunday Service and gave his ‘Urbi et Orbi’ benediction from a balcony facing the Piazza.
He addressed the crowds with the words, “Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!”
He did not lead the Easter Mass outside in the piazza. Instead, he gave that responsibility to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, who is retired but was once in charge of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Following the Mass, he spent around 20 minutes on the loggia balcony above the basilica entrance.
Despite the health issues, Pope Francis remained active until the very last day. In September 2024, he visited Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore on his 12-day tour of south-east Asia and Oceania.
He was known for his liberal views and stances. He showed tolerance for divorces and allowing priests to wed same-sex couples in some situations. His stance on abortion, however, remained firm, with him calling the act “an extremely dangerous crisis of the moral sense.”
Pope Francis’ death has prompted a nine-day period of mourning called Novemdiales.
Vatican released images of the pope’s body in an open casket dressed in a red robe with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary in his hands. His body will be taken to St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning. The public can pay tribute to him until his funeral on April 26.
In accordance with his wishes, Pope Francis will be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
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