Pope Francis Dies at 88: Vatican Enters Mourning as Era of ‘Mercy and the Margins’ Ends

SUMMARY

• Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff and the first Jesuit and Latin American pope, died at 7:35 AM on April 21, 2025.
• Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo, formally announced his death from the Casa Santa Marta residence in the Vatican.
• The funeral will follow the updated 2024 edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, with simplified rites requested by the late pope himself.

‘Returned to the House of the Father’: Vatican Confirms the Passing of Pope Francis

In a moment of solemn gravity for the Catholic Church and the world, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced the death of Pope Francis—born Jorge Mario Bergoglio—from the Casa Santa Marta residence at 9:45 AM Rome time. The pope passed away at 7:35 AM on April 21, 2025, following a long battle with respiratory illness.

“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church,” Cardinal Farrell said, his voice breaking as he read from a prepared statement. “We commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

JUST IN: Pope Francis died on Monday aged 88, a day after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter's Square on Easter Sunday, the Vatican said in a statement.

"Dearest brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father… pic.twitter.com/RpYPLrQoE1

— Daily Tribune (@tribunephl) April 21, 2025

Illness, Hospitalization, and a Return Home

Pope Francis, who had previously lost part of a lung in his 20s, battled frequent respiratory issues throughout his papacy. His final illness began with bronchitis, progressed to pneumonia, and ultimately proved fatal despite extended hospital care.

Though weakened in his final months, the pontiff remained mentally alert and spiritually active. His final public appearance was a brief greeting to pilgrims outside the Vatican on Palm Sunday, delivered through video message due to his condition.

Simplicity in Death: A New Rite for a New Kind of Pope

Before his passing, Pope Francis approved changes to the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the official guide for papal funerals. Under these rules:

• Death is ascertained in a chapel, not the room of death.
• The body is immediately placed in the coffin, foregoing extended public viewing.
• The focus is on faith in the Risen Christ, not temporal power.

“The renewed rite,” said Archbishop Diego Ravelli, “seeks to emphasize that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a disciple of Christ, not a head of state.”

A Papacy of Firsts and Frontiers: Who Pope Francis Was

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1969. Known for his austere lifestyle and deep pastoral concern, he was elected pope in March 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. His pontificate broke with Vatican protocol in countless ways:

• He refused to live in the Apostolic Palace, choosing instead the modest Casa Santa Marta.
• He published Laudato Si’, a landmark encyclical on climate change and the environment.
• He expanded the role of laypeople, especially women, in the Vatican’s synodal processes.
• He was a tireless advocate for refugees, interfaith dialogue, and LGBT+ inclusion, often courting both praise and controversy.

Global Reactions and the Path Ahead

Leaders from across faiths and continents have expressed condolences. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres praised Pope Francis as “a champion of the voiceless,” while Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople called him “a brother in Christ and a prophet of mercy.”

As per Vatican protocol:

• The See of Rome is now vacant, triggering the Sede Vacante period.
• Cardinal Farrell, as Camerlengo, will oversee Vatican affairs until a new pope is elected.
• A conclave of cardinals is expected to begin within the next 15 to 20 days.

The College of Cardinals will soon be called to Rome to elect the 267th pope. Though speculation is premature, early names include Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, and Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg, all figures seen as heirs to Francis’ progressive legacy.

Final Reflection: A Pastor Who Redefined the Papacy

Pope Francis will be remembered as a reformer, a global moral voice, and a relentless champion of the margins. Whether embracing refugees at Lampedusa, denouncing clerical abuse with painful honesty, or washing the feet of prisoners, he reimagined the papacy as a ministry of compassion and justice.

In death, as in life, Pope Francis remains a powerful reminder that the true authority of the Church lies not in grandeur, but in service.