Pope Francis Passes Away on Easter Monday at Age 88

At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, solemnly announced the passing of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with the following statement:

"Dear brothers and sisters, with profound 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 devoted to serving the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the Gospel’s values with unwavering faith, courage, and universal love, particularly in service to the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of Jesus Christ, we entrust the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God."

Pope Francis had been admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after battling bronchitis for several days. His condition gradually deteriorated, and on Tuesday, February 18, doctors diagnosed him with bilateral pneumonia.

After 38 days of treatment, Pope Francis returned to his residence at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican to continue his recovery.

In 1957, at the age of 21, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, as he was known then, underwent surgery in Argentina to remove part of his lung after suffering from a severe respiratory infection.

As he grew older, Pope Francis frequently dealt with respiratory issues. In November 2023, he was forced to cancel a visit to the United Arab Emirates due to influenza and lung inflammation.

In April 2024, Pope Francis approved an updated version of the papal funeral liturgical book, which will guide his funeral Mass. The exact date for the funeral has yet to be announced.

The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis introduces several new rituals, including the handling of the Pope’s body after death. His body will be placed directly into the coffin after the ascertainment of death in the chapel, rather than in the room where he passed away.

According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, Pope Francis had requested that the funeral rites be simplified, with a focus on expressing the Church’s faith in the Risen Christ. "The renewed rite," Archbishop Ravelli said, "is designed to underscore that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ, not a powerful figure of this world."