- Pope Francis, 88, died Monday, April 21. His death comes just hours after the pontiff made an Easter appearance at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Sunday, April 20.
- The 88-year-old was the first Jesuit pope and the first to originate from the Southern hemisphere.
- Although beloved by many, Francis faced controversy, often stemming from his progressive outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics and his crackdown on traditionalists.
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Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Catholic Church, died Monday morning, April 21.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican Camerlengo, announced the religious leader’s passing at the Casa Santa Marta.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. 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. 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 the One and Triune God.”
— Cardinal Kevin Farrell
The news comes just hours after the 88-year-old made an Easter Sunday appearance at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Sunday, April 20.
In his Easter address, delivered by Archbishop Diego Ravelli on the pontiff’s behalf, he urged peace in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as in other parts of the world experiencing conflicts.
In recent months, Francis battled a host of health issues, including diverticulitis, pneumonia and bronchitis.
Who was Pope Francis?
Born in Argentina as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis took over the Catholic Church during a tumultuous time. The 2,000-year-old institution faced multiple controversies during the tenure of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. Benedict’s surprise resignation led to Francis’s election.
Francis made history as the first Jesuit pope and non-European to hold the church’s highest office in more than 1,000 years.
However, Francis also faced controversy, often due to his progressive outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics and his crackdown on traditionalists. He also faced the unique challenge of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tributes start pouring in
Vice President JD Vance, a practicing Catholic, met with Pope Francis over the weekend to celebrate Holy Week.
“I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,” Vance posted to X on Monday morning. “I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul.”
The White House also posted a tribute to the late Catholic leader with a simple caption, reading, “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis.”
What happens next?
Francis’ body will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica, where the Vatican has buried pontiffs for more than 100 years. However, in accordance with Francis’ wishes, he is expected to be buried at the ancient Basilica of St. Mary Major, which lies outside the Vatican walls.
His successor will be chosen during a conclave, a gathering of cardinals responsible for electing a new pope in strict seclusion at the Vatican.
