Vatican City, April 21, 2025 – The Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a transformative figure in the Roman Catholic Church, on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. He passed away at 7:35 a.m. CEST at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, aged 88, after a prolonged battle with double pneumonia.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, delivered the somber news in a video statement, saying, “With deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. His entire life was dedicated to serving the Lord and His Church.”
Cause of Death and Health Struggles
Pope Francis’ death was attributed to complications from double pneumonia, a severe respiratory condition that had plagued him in the final months of his life. The pontiff was initially admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for bronchitis on February 14, 2025. His condition deteriorated, developing into bilateral pneumonia, which required a 38-day hospitalization—the longest of his 12-year papacy.
During this period, he faced multiple health crises, including a polymicrobial respiratory infection, acute respiratory insufficiency, and early-stage kidney failure. Despite a brief recovery that allowed him to return to the Vatican on March 23 and deliver an Easter blessing on April 20, his health declined rapidly, leading to his death the following day.
Francis had long battled respiratory issues, stemming from the removal of part of one lung in his youth due to a severe infection. This left him with reduced respiratory reserve, making him susceptible to diseases like bronchitis and influenza, particularly in winter.
In recent years, he also relied on a wheelchair or cane due to knee problems and sciatica, which limited his mobility. Despite these challenges, Francis remained active, often resisting medical advice to maintain his public engagements, a testament to his commitment to pastoral duties.
A Life of Service: Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s Journey
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was the eldest of five children in a family of Italian immigrants. His father, Mario José Bergoglio, was an accountant who fled fascist Italy in 1929, and his mother, Regina María Sívori, was a housewife of northern Italian descent.
Raised in the working-class neighborhood of Flores, Bergoglio’s early life was shaped by his devout grandmother Rosa, who taught him to pray, and a love for tango, soccer, and opera.
Before entering the priesthood, Bergoglio worked as a bouncer, janitor, and chemical technician, graduating from a technical secondary school. At 17, while heading to confession, he experienced a profound religious calling that changed his trajectory.
He joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1958, drawn to their missionary zeal, and was ordained a priest in 1969. From 1973 to 1979, he served as the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina, navigating the turbulent period of the country’s Dirty War.
His experiences during this time transformed him into a compassionate leader, though his role in protecting Jesuits during the conflict remains debatable.
Bergoglio rose through the ecclesiastical ranks, becoming Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and a cardinal in 2001 under Pope John Paul II.
His reputation as a humble pastor who lived simply—often taking public transport and cooking his own meals—grew. In 2005, he was a leading contender in the conclave that elected Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI, foreshadowing his election in 2013 after Benedict’s historic resignation, the first in nearly 600 years.
A Groundbreaking Papacy
Elected on March 13, 2013, at age 76, Francis became the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European pontiff since the 8th-century Syrian Pope Gregory III.
His papacy was marked by a less formal approach, reflecting his belief that the Church should be a “field hospital after battle,” healing wounds and warming hearts.
He shunned the ornate papal apartments, lived in the modest Casa Santa Marta guesthouse, wore simple shoes instead of red papal loafers, and drove compact cars.
Francis sought to make the Church more inclusive and compassionate. He appointed women to significant roles, including Sister Simona Brambilla as the first female prefect of a principal Vatican office.
He opened debates on controversial issues like divorce, homosexuality, and climate change. His 2013 remark, “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?” signaled unprecedented acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community.
However, he later clarified that same-sex unions could not be blessed liturgically. He also advocated for the abolition of the death penalty, denounced unbridled capitalism, and made climate action a cornerstone of his papacy.
On the global stage, Francis was a diplomatic force. He played a key role in restoring U.S.-Cuba relations in 2014, condemned the persecution of Christians by ISIL, and appealed directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine conflict in 2022. His visits, including a historic Mass in Abu Dhabi in 2019, emphasized interfaith dialogue and support for marginalized groups like refugees and Yazidi genocide survivors.
However, his progressive reforms faced resistance from conservative factions, particularly in the U.S., where some branded him a Marxist. Francis responded lightheartedly, noting he had Marxist friends, and took measures to shift power toward more pastoral leaders, including sanctioning conservative critics like Cardinal Raymond Burke.
Final Days and Legacy
In his final months, Francis focused on securing his legacy, appointing nearly 80% of the cardinal electors to choose his successor, increasing the likelihood of continuing his progressive policies. His last public appearance on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, saw him bless thousands in St. Peter’s Square from a wheelchair, drawing cheers as he toured the Popemobile. Hours later, he passed away, triggering a nine-day mourning period known as the Novendiale and preparations for a conclave to elect a new pope within 15 to 20 days.
Francis requested a simplified funeral to be held in St. Peter’s Square and led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re. Unlike most popes, he chose to be buried in Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the first pontiff in over a century to be interred outside the Vatican. His body will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing, placed in a single wooden coffin lined with zinc, per his wishes to eschew traditional pomp.
Global Tributes
World leaders and figures mourned Francis’ passing. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called him “a great shepherd,” while New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon praised his commitment to social justice. Comedian Whoopi Goldberg, who met Francis in 2023, lauded his humanity, recalling his support for humorists as vital to society. The Archbishop of York described him as a “holy man of God” whose ministry centered on serving the poor and displaced.
Pope Francis’ death marks the end of a papacy that reshaped the Catholic Church, leaving a legacy of humility, compassion, and reform. As the College of Cardinals prepares to elect his successor, his influence is expected to endure, shaping the Church’s direction for years.
