Pope Francis, Pioneering Latin American Pontiff, Dies at 88 on Easter Monday

Pope Francis, the first pope from Latin America and a transformative leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. The Vatican confirmed that he died peacefully in his residence at Casa Santa Marta within Vatican City. His passing brings an end to a 12-year papacy that left a lasting impact through his humility, advocacy for the underprivileged, and ambitious efforts to reform the Church.

“With deep sorrow, I inform you that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has returned to the house of the Father at 7:35 this morning,” he said in a solemn address. “Throughout his life, he served the Lord and His Church with unwavering devotion, embodying the Gospel through courage, compassion, and an unwavering love for the most vulnerable among us.” Cardinal Kevin Farrell.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis made history in 2013 when he became the first Jesuit, the first American, and the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years. He took the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, symbolizing his commitment to humility, care for creation, and solidarity with the poor.

In recent years, Pope Francis grappled with serious health problems, including long-standing respiratory issues due to a lung surgery in his youth. In February 2025, he was hospitalized for 38 days at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after developing double pneumonia. His condition worsened with two acute respiratory failures and a near-death crisis. Though he briefly appeared in public during Easter celebrations on April 20, his health rapidly declined thereafter.

Following his death, the Vatican has entered the sede vacante period, during which the College of Cardinals assumes interim governance of the Church. A conclave will be held within 15 to 20 days in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope, with voting restricted to cardinals under the age of 80. The Church has now begun the traditional nine-day mourning period, known as the Novendiale, and Pope Francis’s funeral is expected to take place in St. Peter’s Square within the coming days.