Pope Francis died on April 21, Monday from Easter at 7:35 Rome, as confirmed by the press office of the Holy See. The 88 -year -old pontiff, who led the Catholic Church for 12 years, died in Santa Marta, his residence in the Vatican.
The Camarlengo, Cardinal Joseph Farrell, together with the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Mons. Edgar Peña Parra, substitute for the State Secretariat of the Holy See and Mons. Diego Ravelli, master of the pontifical liturgical ceremonies, announced with pain the death of Pope Francis with these words:
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“Dear Brothers and Sisters, with deep pain I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francisco. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francisco, has returned to the Father’s House. All his 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 favor of the poorest and most marginalized.
With immense gratitude for his example of the true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we entrust the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of God one and triune. ”
The Vatican has not yet announced the details about the funerals of the first Latin American Pope in history. In the next few days a conclave will be convened to choose his successor.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and entered the company of Jesus at age 21. After his ordination in 1969, he served as a Jesuit provincial, rector of seminar and professor before San Juan Pablo II appointed him auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992. He became a archbishop of the Argentine capital in 1998 and was created Cardinal in 2001.
The surprise choice of Cardinal Bergoglio on March 13, 2013, at 76, marked several historical milestones: he was the first Jesuit Pope, the first of the Americas and the first to choose the name of Francisco, inspired by the devotion of San Francisco de Asís for poverty, peace and love for creation.
His pontificate of almost 13 years was characterized by an approach to mercy, the care of creation and attention to what he called the “peripheries” of both the Church and of society. He made 47 apostolic trips outside Italy, although he never visited his native Argentina.
Francisco Canonized 942 Santos – more than any other Pope in History – including his predecessors John XXIII, Pablo VI and Juan Pablo II. Published four encyclicals and seven apostolic exhortations, promulgating 75 documents Motu proprio.
During his pontificate he significantly remodel the Cardinal College through 10 consistories, creating 163 new cardinals. Their appointments reflected their vision of a global church, raising prelates from the peripheries and creating cardinals in places that had never had one, such as Mongolia and South Sudan.
Health challenges marked the last years of his life. He underwent surgeries in July 2021 and in June 2023. In November 2023 he suffered a pulmonary inflammation and in February 2025 he was hospitalized at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome due to bronchitis and respiratory infection.
His papacy faced unprecedented challenges, including Covid-19’s global pandemic, during which he offered historical moments of prayer for humanity, such as the remarkable extraordinary blessing City and the World before a Plaza de San Pedro empty in March 2020. He also repeatedly called La Paz in the midst of conflicts in Ukraine and the Holy Land.
Francisco convened four synods, including the Synod on Sinodality, whose second session concluded in October 2024. He implemented important reforms of the Roman curia and took several measures to address the abuse crisis in the Church, including the Moving your own you are the light of the world 2019.
After the funeral of the Pope and the traditional nine days of mourning, cardinals around the world will meet in Rome for the general congregations and the subsequent conclave to choose his successor.
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