Pope Francis has died at the age of 88 following a prolonged illness, the Vatican announced on Monday. The pontiff passed away at 7.35 am at his residence in Casa Santa Marta. His death was confirmed by Cardinal Kevin Farrell in a televised statement.
&ldquo;At 7.35 am this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,&rdquo; Cardinal Farrell said. &ldquo;His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church.&rdquo;
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, was elected on March 13, 2013, at the age of 76, becoming the first Latin American and the first Jesuit to lead the Roman Catholic Church after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
His papacy spanned 12 years and was marked by reform efforts, global outreach, and a focus on inclusion and the marginalized.
Health Concerns and Final Public Appearances
Francis had battled a series of health issues during his pontificate. He was hospitalized on February 14 for bronchitis, and was later diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and initial signs of kidney failure, with the Vatican reporting that he had entered a &ldquo;critical condition.&rdquo;
On March 23, he made a brief appearance from the balcony of the hospital, giving a thumbs-up to well-wishers gathered outside. He later returned to the Vatican to begin two months of rest and recovery.
Despite doctors advising continued rest, Francis made a surprise public appearance on Easter Sunday, when he greeted a crowd of 35,000 people in St Peter&rsquo;s Square from his popemobile, offering his blessing and waving to pilgrims. The day before, he had held a private meeting with the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance.
He did not attend the traditional Good Friday procession, marking the third consecutive year he had missed the annual event.
Reforms and Legacy
Francis was one of the oldest popes in Church history and was often praised for his efforts to modernize the Church while maintaining its spiritual traditions. His papacy was defined by an emphasis on social justice, interfaith dialogue, and outreach to the world&rsquo;s poor and marginalised communities.
He reorganized the Vatican&rsquo;s bureaucracy, authored four major teaching documents, and created over 900 saints. Over the course of his tenure, he travelled to more than 65 countries, promoting peace and understanding.
He introduced several reforms, including the historic decision to allow priests to bless same-sex couples on a case-by-case basis and the appointment of women to senior Vatican roles for the first time. He also convened five major summits with Catholic bishops to debate key issues such as women&rsquo;s ordination and the Church&rsquo;s stance on sexuality.
While these changes were welcomed by many, they also drew criticism from both conservatives and progressives within the Church.
A Humble and Accessible Pope
As Pope, he inherited an institution facing deep divisions and widespread scandal. The Church was under intense scrutiny over its handling of clerical abuse cases and internal infighting. Francis was seen as a unifying figure with a mandate to restore credibility and transparency to the Vatican.
His leadership style, marked by humility and accessibility, earned him both global admiration and internal resistance. He chose to reside in the modest Casa Santa Marta rather than the papal apartments and often spoke of the need for a &ldquo;poor Church for the poor.&rdquo;
Tributes and Funeral Arrangements
Following the announcement of his death, tributes poured in from world leaders. German chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz said Francis would be remembered for his &ldquo;tireless commitment to the weakest members of society, to justice and reconciliation.&rdquo;
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to X (formerly Twitter) and expressed condolences on the Pope&rsquo;s passing. &ldquo;Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world,&rdquo; he wrote.&nbsp;
In accordance with tradition, a nine-day mourning period known as Novendiale will now begin. The Pope&rsquo;s body will be displayed in St Peter&rsquo;s Basilica for public viewing. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, is tasked with overseeing formalities following the Pope&rsquo;s death, including verifying his passing and the destruction of the papal ring, signifying the end of his reign.
Pope Francis had requested simplified funeral rites focused on expressing the Church's faith in the Risen Christ, according to Vatican News. Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, said the updated funeral liturgy, approved by Francis in April 2024, emphasizes the Pope&rsquo;s role as a pastor and disciple rather than a worldly figure. The revised Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis introduces new elements, including the confirmation of death in a chapel and immediate placement of the body into the coffin.
The Vatican has confirmed that Francis wished to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, making him the first pontiff in a century to be buried outside the Vatican.
What&rsquo;s Next: Conclave and Succession
The Catholic Church will now enter a transitional period known as sede vacante. The College of Cardinals will assume temporary authority, with a conclave expected to be convened in the Sistine Chapel within two to three weeks of the funeral to elect a new Pope.
Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. The election process will continue until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority. Upon selection, white smoke will rise from the Sistine Chapel&rsquo;s chimney, followed by the traditional declaration, &ldquo;Habemus Papam.&rdquo;
Among those considered potential successors are Cardinal Pietro Parolin of Italy, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of Congo, Cardinal Wim Eijk of the Netherlands, Cardinal Peter Erdo of Hungary, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, Cardinal Raymond Burke of the United States, and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Italy.
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The first Latin American pontiff, he led the Catholic Church for 12 years with humility and bold reforms

Pope Francis Dies at 88: End of a Transformative Papacy

The first Latin American pontiff, he led the Catholic Church for 12 years with humility and bold reforms

April 21, 2025 | 20:52 IST

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