Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, aged 88

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, in his home in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. At 9:45 a.m., Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced Pope Francis’ death from the Casa Santa Marta, saying:

“With profound regret, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.  Francis, Bishop of Rome, returned to the Father’s house at 7:35 a.m. today.  He spent his entire life serving the Lord and His Church.

He taught us to follow the Gospel’s teachings with faithfulness, bravery, and universal love, particularly for the poorest and most marginalised.  With great thanks for his example as a real follower of the Lord Jesus, we submit Pope Francis’ soul to the boundless forgiving love of the One and Triune God.”

The Pope was hospitalised to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, following a bout of bronchitis that lasted several days.

Pope Francis’ medical condition deteriorated significantly, and his physicians confirmed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18.

The late Pope returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta after spending 38 days in hospital for recovery.

The young Jorge Mario Bergoglio received medical treatment in 1957 at his home country of Argentina to remove lung tissue affected by a serious respiratory infection.

The ageing Pope Francis experienced recurring respiratory conditions that led him to cancel his scheduled visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 because of influenza and lung inflammation.

A new edition of the papal funeral liturgical book received approval from Pope Francis in April 2024 to direct the upcoming funeral Mass which has not yet been scheduled.

The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis presents novel elements regarding the funeral arrangements for the Pope’s remains after death.

The chapel serves as the location for death ascertainment instead of the death room while the body gets placed directly into the coffin.

The late Pope Francis asked Archbishop Diego Ravelli to lead Apostolic Ceremonies who explained that the funeral service should be simplified to express Church faith in the Resurrected Body of Christ.

Archbishop Ravelli explained that the updated funeral ritual aims to highlight the fact that the Roman Pontiff receives a pastoral funeral service as a disciple of Christ rather than a funeral for a world leader.

We appreciate your attention to our article. The daily newsletter provides subscribers with the most current updates.