Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, passed away on Easter Monday at 88, the Vatican confirmed in a video statement.
Pope Francis died 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
His death at Casa Santa Marta concludes a transformative 12-year papacy marked by reform efforts and internal divisions within the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced, “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father’s house,” during a Vatican television broadcast.
The announcement followed Pope Francis’s recent recovery from a 38-day hospitalisation for pneumonia, ending March 23, 2025.
On Easter Sunday, he made his first major public appearance since Christmas, blessing crowds from the popemobile in St. Peter’s Square.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis was elected on March 13, 2013, surprising many as an Argentine cleric known for advocating for the poor.
Choosing simplicity, he resided in Casa Santa Marta rather than the Apostolic Palace, citing “psychological health” and community living. His papacy inherited a Church facing child sex abuse scandals and Vatican conflicts, with a mandate to restore order.
Francis’s tenure sparked debate. Conservatives criticised his departure from tradition, while progressives sought bolder reforms. Globally, he drew crowds through interfaith dialogue, advocacy for migrants, and outreach to marginalised groups.
Notably, his papacy coexisted with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who lived in the Vatican until he died in 2022, marking a rare period with two living popes.
Having appointed most cardinal electors, Francis’s progressive legacy may shape the next conclave, despite traditionalist opposition.
