VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis, the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday morning at the age of 88.
The Vatican confirmed that he passed away peacefully at 7:35 a.m. local time in his residence at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, following complications from double pneumonia.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis broke historic ground when he became the first Latin American, the first Jesuit, and the first non-European pope in more than a millennium. Cardinals elected him on March 13, 2013, following Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation.
Throughout his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis championed social justice, climate action, and compassion for the poor and marginalized. He rejected the traditional papal residence in favor of simpler quarters and led by example with his humility and accessibility.
In early 2025, doctors hospitalized the Pope for over a month due to pneumonia. Although he briefly reappeared on Easter Sunday, his condition worsened in the days that followed.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, serving as Camerlengo, officially announced the Pope’s death and initiated the traditional nine-day mourning period. The Church will hold a public funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Square, drawing leaders and faithful from around the world.
The College of Cardinals will now prepare for a conclave to elect a new pope within the next few weeks.
Pope Francis leaves behind a global legacy of bridge-building, reform, and unwavering commitment to mercy and inclusion.
Comments are closed.