Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, passed away at the age of 88, the Vatican announced in a video statement on Monday, April 21. His 12-year papacy was marked by both global influence and ongoing health issues.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,″ Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said in the announcement. “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.
“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 God, One and Tribune.” Tributes are pouring in for Pope Francis after the confirmation of his death by the Vatican.
Just a day before his death, during his Easter Sunday address, Pope Francis delivered a powerful message advocating for freedom of thought, expression, and religion.
Speaking to a crowd of over 35,000 gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica, he offered Easter greetings before delegating the reading of his traditional ‘Urbi et Orbi’ (‘To the City and the World’) blessing to an aide due to his frail health.
In his speech, the Pope condemned rising anti-Semitism and expressed deep concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling it “dramatic and deplorable.”
The leader of the Roman Catholic Church had been hospitalised on February 14 for tests and treatment for bronchitis at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic.
Francis, who had a portion of one lung removed at age 21, struggled with ongoing health issues throughout his life. He was particularly vulnerable to lung infections due to developing pleurisy – an inflammation of the lung’s outer lining – earlier in adulthood. In recent years, he frequently battled acute bronchitis during the winter and often relied on a wheelchair, walker, or cane to move around his residence.
