Pope Francis, the first non-European pope in 1300 years, passed away on Easter Monday, 21 April 2025, the Vatican announced at 9.45am on Monday. He died at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. The Pope was 88. (UPDATE: New Pope Leo XIV has been elected.)
One of his last visitors was US Vice President JD Vance who had a private meeting with Pope Francis on Sunday, in Rome. The two reportedly exchanged Easter wishes, according to the New York Times.
Yesterday, Vance posted some photos, saying: “Today I met with the Holy Father Pope Francis. I am grateful for his invitation to meet, and I pray for his good health. Happy Easter!”
The previous day the Pope had sent a Cardinal to meet with Vance and deliver a message on his behalf. The Pope criticised the US’s deportation policies, and appealed to Catholics to have compassion and reject the anti-immigrant narratives.
Announcement of Pope’s Death
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis on Monday morning, saying:
“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.”
France 24 described history’s first Latin American pontiff as having “charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change.”
The Pope’s Illness
The Pope had been admitted to hospital on Friday 14 February ’25, following a bout of bronchitis he had suffered for several days. His condition worsened and by 18 February, he was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia.
He returned to the Vatican to recover after 38 days in hospital.
The Pope had a history of lung infections. Born in Argentina to Italian immigrant parents, Pope Francis 1 was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio. In 1957, in his early 20s, Jorge underwent surgery in Argentina to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection.
The Vatican said: “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.”
UPDATE on Cause of Death: The cause of Pope Francis’ death has been identified as a stroke, followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse, the Vatican said.
According to the medical report, the Pope had a prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes.
What happens now?
A year ago 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.
Several new elements to the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis have been introducing, including how the Pope’s mortal remains will be handled.
The Vatican said today: “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, 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 Archbishop said: “The renewed tie 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.”
Before becoming Pope, Jorge spent his early years as a janitor and night club bouncer before rising up through the ranks of the church to become a powerful voice for the marginalised, emphasising care and inclusion over the more conservative doctrinal ‘purity’.
Next begins the process to select a new Pope, as seen recently in Conclave, based on Robert Harris’s novel.
