Vatican City – April 21, 2025
Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and its first Latin American leader, died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. The Vatican confirmed that he passed away at 7:35 a.m. Vatican time in his residence at Casa Santa Marta. The official cause of death was a stroke leading to a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was elected in 2013, becoming the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas. His papacy was marked by a focus on humility, social justice, and outreach to marginalized communities.
In accordance with his wishes, Pope Francis will be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, making him the first pope in over a century to be interred outside the Vatican. He had requested a simplified funeral, eliminating traditional practices such as the three-coffin requirement.
World leaders have expressed their condolences and paid tribute to Pope Francis’s legacy. U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump shared memories of their 2017 meeting with the pontiff, stating, “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis.” Vice President J.D. Vance, who met with the Pope on Easter Sunday, noted, “He was obviously very ill,” and shared a homily from the early days of COVID-19 that he found particularly moving.
French President Emmanuel Macron reflected on the Pope’s efforts to bring joy and hope to the poorest, stating, “From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. To unite Humans with each other and with nature.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised his humility and love for the less fortunate, saying, “He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church.”
The Catholic Church has entered a period of mourning known as sede vacante. A conclave to elect Pope Francis’s successor is expected to convene between May 6 and May 11, 2025.
As the world mourns the loss of Pope Francis, his legacy as a compassionate and reform-minded leader continues to resonate across the globe.
