Just hours before his passing, the pontiff appeared frail but determined as he blessed a crowd of more than 35,000 worshippers from the central lodge of St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter Sunday. He’d only recently returned home from a 38-day stay at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he was being treated for bronchitis and double pneumonia.
But by Easter Monday morning, The Vatican had announced that Pope Francis had sadly passed away.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father,” announced Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, confirming the Pope’s death at the Vatican.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized,” Cardinal Farrell said.
The Vatican said Francis had slipped into a coma following a severe cerebral stroke, which then led to irreversible heart failure, The Sun reports.
His death has plunged 1.4 billion Catholics around the world into mourning.
READ MORE: How the next Pope will be selected following Pope Francis’ death
A final Easter moment in the spotlight
Just a day earlier, the Pope had appeared in public to celebrate Easter, greeting thousands from his open-topped popemobile in Vatican City. Though clearly frail, he waved, smiled, and stopped to bless babies brought up to him — despite having recently fought for his life.
“Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter,” he said, his voice full of effort.
While he delegated the Easter Mass to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis emerged afterwards on the loggia balcony and spent over 20 minutes blessing the crowd in Latin.
A military band blared the Holy See anthem as cheers erupted below. Few could have guessed it would be his final public appearance.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, had struggled with respiratory issues for most of his life. In his twenties, he had part of his lung removed following a severe infection in Argentina.
In recent years, those issues returned with greater frequency. He cancelled international trips, missed official events, and in February this year, was admitted to Gemelli Hospital for what started as bronchitis but developed into double pneumonia.
The Vatican said his clinical situation was “complex,” and doctors were forced to adjust treatment. Blood transfusions followed. At one point, the prognosis was “reserved,” and the Pope himself is said to have confided, “I might not make it this time.”
Nevertheless, he defied expectations. On April 6, he returned to the public eye in a wheelchair, attending a special jubilee mass for the sick.
Tributes flood in from across the globe
The world has since erupted in tributes.
Former US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis! May God bless him and all who loved him!”
He added, “Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called him “a Pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten.”
Cardinal Vincent Nichols led a requiem mass in London where he told worshippers: “We know a voice has fallen silent, a voice that’s been heard in every corner of the world, a voice of warm encouragement and sharp challenge… This voice is silent, for a more authoritative voice has spoken – that of his heavenly father.”
Cardinal Nichols is one of several British and Irish cardinals expected to travel to Rome for the Pope’s funeral and the conclave to elect his successor.
Leaders of other faiths also paid tribute.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis described the moment as one of “great sadness,” offering prayers of strength and support for Catholics worldwide. Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell said the Pope was “witty, lively, good to be with.” Former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby added: “He spoke not just to the Catholic Church, but far beyond it.”
Funeral plans underway
The Pope’s body will be moved to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, April 23, where the public will be able to pay their respects. According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Pope Francis had requested a simplified funeral “focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ.”
The revised funeral rites—approved by Francis himself just last year—emphasise his role as a “pastor and disciple of Christ,” rather than a powerful figure.
Our thoughts go out to every individual affected by Pope Francis’ death.
