Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. He died peacefully at 7:35 a.m. in his residence at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. His death followed a prolonged illness, including a recent hospitalization for double pneumonia.
Francis was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European to lead the Catholic Church in over a thousand years. He was elected in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Upon election, he chose the name Francis to honor Saint Francis of Assisi, symbolizing his dedication to humility, simplicity, and service to the poor.
Throughout his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis became known for his reformist stance and his efforts to modernize the Church. He often spoke out on major global issues such as climate change, economic inequality, and the global refugee crisis. His inclusive message and focus on compassion earned him praise across religious and political divides.
In 2015, he released the encyclical Laudato Si’, urging world leaders to take action against environmental degradation. He also tackled the Church’s long-standing sexual abuse crisis, introducing several measures aimed at greater accountability and transparency.
Despite ongoing health concerns—including a partial lung removal in his youth and recent respiratory illnesses—Pope Francis remained active in his role. He gave his final Easter blessing from St. Peter’s Basilica just a day before his passing.
A moment of reflection recalls his surprise election in 2013, when his modest background and message of mercy caught the attention of a world yearning for change within the Catholic Church. Over the years, he reshaped how the papacy is viewed—less as a throne of power and more as a role of servant leadership.
The Vatican announced that funeral proceedings would begin with the “rite of the confirmation of death,” followed by a period of mourning. In line with his wishes, Pope Francis will be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, making him the first pope in over a century not to be interred within the Vatican.
As the Church prepares for a new conclave to choose his successor, Catholics around the world are reflecting on the legacy Pope Francis leaves behind—one rooted in humility, social justice, and a vision of a more compassionate Church.
