Pope Francis, the pontiff, Bishop of Rome and head of Catholic church passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025 at the age of 88.
His death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell in a statement released by the Vatican. He said: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.
"At 7.35am 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 His Church.
"He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.
"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."
On February 14, the Pope was hospitalized for treatment of bronchitis. In the following days, the Vatican reported that he had been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and had undergone blood transfusions due to low platelet levels, a condition linked to anemia.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, Pope Francis made history in 2013 as the first Jesuit and the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years. His papacy has emphasized humility, social justice, and outreach to the marginalized.