The leader of 1.4 billion Catholics passed away on Easter Monday, marking the end of a transformative 12-year papacy focused on humility, inclusion, and justice.
Vatican City, April 21, 2025 –
Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed. He died at 7:35 a.m. local time, just one day after making a public appearance on Easter Sunday from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, waving to worshippers.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis became the first pontiff from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope, following his election in March 2013, after Pope Benedict XVI’s historic resignation. His papacy, though frequently challenged by health issues and internal Church divisions, was marked by efforts to create a more inclusive, compassionate, and socially engaged Catholic Church.
🏥 Recent Health Challenges
Pope Francis had been in fragile health over recent years, having undergone colon surgery, hernia repair, and suffering from respiratory issues, knee problems, and most recently, bilateral pneumonia and early-stage kidney failure. He was last hospitalized on February 14, returned to the Vatican in late March, and had continued with limited engagements.
Also Read: Pope Francis Remains in Critical Condition but Not in Immediate Danger, Says Vatican
On April 19, he met with US Vice President JD Vance, and just a day before his death, he addressed thousands during Easter Sunday Mass.
⚰️ Final Wishes and Burial
Breaking from centuries-old tradition, Pope Francis had expressed a desire to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, rather than in St. Peter’s Basilica. He also rejected the customary triple coffin burial, opting instead for a single wooden and zinc coffin, reflecting his lifelong emphasis on humility and simplicity.
🌍 A Transformative Papacy
Over his 12-year reign, Pope Francis:
- Restructured the Vatican bureaucracy
- Led over 47 international visits
- Authored four major theological works
- Canonized more than 900 saints
- Organized five Vatican synods
- Advanced the role of women in Church leadership
- Allowed blessings for same-sex couples in certain contexts
- Firmly addressed the global clergy sexual abuse crisis
His focus on social justice, climate change, migrants’ rights, and inclusive dialogue made him a global moral voice, admired beyond religious circles.
Despite resistance from both conservatives and progressives, Francis remained steadfast in modernizing the 2,000-year-old Church without abandoning its spiritual core.
🕊️ What’s Next: The Conclave
The Pope’s passing triggers the sede vacante period, during which the Camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, will manage day-to-day Vatican affairs. A conclave of cardinals will be convened within the next 15–20 days to elect a successor.
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Pope Francis death, Vatican news, Catholic Church, papal conclave, Pope legacy, papal burial, Pope Francis biography, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Vatican 2025, Catholic reform