VATICAN, April 21: At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words: "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."

The Pope was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days. Pope Francis’ clinical situation gradually worsened, and his doctors diagnosed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18. After 38 days in hospital, the late Pope returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery. In 1957, in his early 20s, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in his native Argentina to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection.

As he aged, Pope Francis frequently suffered bouts of respiratory illnesses, even cancelling a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation. In April 2024, the late Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, which will guide the funeral Mass which has yet to be announced. The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis introduces several new elements, including how the Pope’s mortal remains are to be handled after death. The ascertainment of death takes place in the chapel, rather than in the room where he died, and his body is immediately placed inside the coffin. According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, the late Pope Francis had requested that the funeral rites be simplified and focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ. “The renewed rite,” said Archbishop Ravelli, “seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.”  

By tradition, a Conclave—the gathering of cardinals in the Sistine Chapel to select a new pope—will not be held for at least 15 days. During this period, Pope Francis's body will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by an official mourning period. In a departure from the tradition followed by most of his predecessors, Pope Francis will be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, located in Rome’s Esquilino neighborhood.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis made history as the first pope from outside Europe in 1,300 years when he succeeded Pope Benedict XVI in 2013. Despite facing several health challenges and mobility issues due to his age and expanding waistline, he continued to maintain a demanding schedule right up until his final weeks. In September 2024, he completed a 12-day tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania, visiting countries like Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore.

Pope Francis will be remembered for his progressive views on certain issues, which both garnered praise and sparked controversy. He expressed tolerance towards divorcees, allowed priests to bless same-sex couples under certain circumstances, and made environmental concerns a central focus of his papacy. In 2023, he also stated that transgender people could be baptized, as long as it did not cause scandal or confusion.

However, Pope Francis remained firm on his stance against abortion. In a document signed by him and released by the Vatican last year, he referred to abortion as "an extremely dangerous crisis of the moral sense."

The Pope’s health had been a growing concern in recent years. He was first hospitalized on February 14, and his treatment led to the cancellation of several public appearances, including his weekly prayers to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square. His final illness came after he had been hospitalized for three days in March 2023 with bronchitis. In June of that year, he underwent a three-hour surgery to repair an abdominal hernia. He also had to cancel his trip to the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in November 2023 due to the effects of influenza and lung inflammation.

Pope Francis also suffered from two recent falls. The first, in December 2024, left him with a large bruise on his chin during a ceremony in St. Peter’s Basilica, where he installed 21 new Catholic cardinals. In January of this year, he fell again and injured his right arm, which was placed in a sling.

Pope Francis’s health had been fragile for much of his life, particularly because part of one of his lungs had been removed when he was 21 after he developed pleurisy.

Born on December 17, 1936, Pope Francis was one of five children of an Italian immigrant railway worker and his wife. His legacy will be marked by his compassionate leadership and his efforts to modernize the Catholic Church while maintaining its core values.