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Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at age 88, the Vatican confirmed. He passed away at his residence, Casa Santa Marta, with Cardinal Kevin Farrell announcing the news: “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
A memorial image reading “Pope Francis, 1936–2025” was shared by Vatican News. Tributes flooded in, honoring him as a globally admired figure and the first Latin American pope. His papacy, beginning in 2013, was marked by efforts to reform the Church amid scandals and ideological divides. Though criticized by both conservatives and progressives, he remained committed to unity, peace, interfaith dialogue, and migrant rights.
In recent months, his health declined. He battled double pneumonia and was hospitalized for five weeks. On March 23, he made a frail public appearance from Gemelli Hospital’s balcony, moved by crowds and visibly emotional.
Despite controversy and illness, Pope Francis reshaped the modern papacy, leaving a lasting legacy of compassion and reform.
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