Pope Francis dies at 88
Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88. The Vatican announced that the pontiff died on Easter Monday at his residence, the Casa Santa Marta, located within Vatican City.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, officially confirmed the Pope’s death on Monday morning, stating that he passed away at exactly 7:35 a.m.
“His life was wholly devoted to serving the Lord and His Church,” Farrell said. “He inspired us to embody Gospel values with faithfulness, courage, and unconditional love—especially toward the poor and marginalized. With deep gratitude for his witness as a true follower of Christ, we entrust his soul to the boundless mercy of the Triune God.”
In recent weeks, Pope Francis had been recovering after being discharged from the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital. He spent 38 days hospitalized, returning to his Vatican residence to continue his recovery.
The Pope was admitted to the hospital on February 14, 2025, after experiencing prolonged symptoms of bronchitis. His condition worsened, and on February 18, doctors diagnosed him with bilateral pneumonia.
Decades earlier, in 1957, a young Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in Argentina to remove part of a lung due to a serious respiratory infection. Throughout his life, respiratory illnesses continued to affect him, notably forcing him to cancel a scheduled trip to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to flu and lung inflammation.
In April 2024, Pope Francis approved a revised edition of the liturgical text for papal funerals. This updated version of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis introduces new protocols, including transferring the Pope’s body to the chapel for confirmation of death and immediate placement into the coffin.
Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, shared that the late pontiff had requested a simpler funeral, focused on the Church’s faith in the resurrection of Christ.
“The renewed rite,” Ravelli noted, “highlights that the funeral of a Roman Pontiff is that of a shepherd and a disciple of Christ—not that of a worldly figure of power.”