Pope Francis, 88, dies day after Easter

Published: April 22, 2025

U.S. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta in Rome at 9:45 a.m. (2:45 a.m. central time), on Monday, April 21.

"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.

"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. 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."

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, died at the age of 88. He served as spiritual leader for the Catholic Church for 12 years. Vatican News offered an overview of his papacy, which highlights "his journeys, reforms, writings, work for peace and human fraternity and outreach to the poor and migrants."

"He said war is 'always a defeat,' as he repeated in over 300 appeals, even when his voice faltered, in his hundreds of public statements after the outbreak of violence in Ukraine and the Middle East." Read more.

"He sought to be a messenger of hope and mercy for Catholics and others, calling all to a deeper relationship with the Lord through prayer and good works that reflected the compassion and love of Jesus. He was sincerely and deeply concerned about the poor and people living on the margins, and he was not afraid as their Shepherd to be their voice," wrote Bishop Anthony B. Taylor about Pope Francis after his death. Read his statement.

"He was sincerely and deeply concerned about the poor and people living on the margins, and he was not afraid as their Shepherd to be their voice." — Bishop Taylor, following Pope Francis' death

According to Vatican News, Pope Francis was admitted to Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Feb. 14, after suffering from bronchitis for several days. His condition worsened and he was diagnosed bilateral pneumonia Feb. 18. After 38 days in the hospital, he was released and returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery.

At 5:30 a.m. (10:30 p.m. central time), the Holy Father suddenly became very ill and about an hour later he fell into a coma and by 7:35 a.m. (12:35 a.m. central time) he died. It was later explained that he had a stroke that led to "irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse."

The funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, April 26 in St. Peter’s Square. "Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the liturgy, which begins a nine-day period of official mourning and daily memorial Masses." The body of the late Pope Francis will be in St. Peter’s Basilica to lie in state for public viewing and prayer from April 23-25.

"In his brief final testament, Pope Francis asked to be buried at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major and said he had offered his suffering for peace in the world," according to Catholic News Service.

“I wish my last earthly journey to end at this very ancient Marian shrine where I would go to pray at the beginning and end of each apostolic journey to confidently entrust my intentions to the Immaculate Mother and to thank her for the docile and maternal care,” he wrote. Read Arkansas Catholic to learn more.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let the perpetual light shine upon him. And may he and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.