ROME, ITALY — Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88, following a period of declining health after a five-week hospital stay in Rome.
The Vatican confirmed the Pope’s passing at his residence, Casa Santa Marta, on Easter Monday. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, made the announcement at 9:45 a.m. local time.
“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,” Cardinal Farrell stated.
“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,” the Cardinal added.
Cardinal Farrell praised Pope Francis as a devoted follower of Jesus. “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.”
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was the first pontiff from Latin America and the first Jesuit to hold the position. Elected in 2013 after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, he led the Catholic Church for over a decade, marked by calls for reform, interfaith dialogue, and a strong emphasis on social justice.
The Pope had been admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after experiencing several days of bronchitis. His condition gradually deteriorated, and doctors diagnosed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18. After a 38-day hospital stay, he returned to his Vatican residence, Casa Santa Marta, to continue his recovery.
In his early 20s, in 1957, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in Argentina to remove a portion of his lung affected by a severe respiratory infection.
Throughout his later years, Pope Francis frequently suffered from respiratory illnesses, including the cancellation of a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation.
In April 2024, Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, which will serve as the guide for his funeral Mass, the details of which the Vatican has yet to announce.
The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis introduces several new elements, including the handling of the Pope’s mortal remains after death.
The ascertainment of death will occur in the chapel, rather than the room where he died, and his body will be immediately placed in the coffin.
According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, Pope Francis had requested that his funeral rites be simplified and focused on expressing the Church’s faith in the Risen Body of Christ.
“The renewed rite,” Archbishop Ravelli stated, “seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.”
