Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88. The Vatican confirmed that the Holy Father passed away peacefully at 7:35 a.m. local time at Casa Santa Marta, his residence inside Vatican City.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the news with a solemn message from the Vatican: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 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 of 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 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.”
Elected in March 2013, Francis became the first Jesuit and the first non-European pope in over a millennium. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he brought a distinctive pastoral approach to the papacy, emphasizing humility, social justice, and outreach to the marginalized.
Francis led the global Catholic Church through an era of reform and challenge, consistently championing the poor, climate action, interfaith dialogue, and a more inclusive Church. He often used his position to elevate the voices of the vulnerable, pushing the Church into modern conversations on migration, economics, and human rights.
The pope’s death comes just one day after a visit from U.S. Vice President JD Vance at his Vatican residence.
In accordance with his wishes, Francis will not be buried in the traditional papal tomb under St. Peter’s Basilica. Instead, his body will lie in state at St. Peter’s before being interred at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of Rome’s oldest and most revered churches.
A conclave to elect the next pope will begin within the next two to three weeks. The gathering of cardinals from around the world will meet in strict secrecy inside the Sistine Chapel to select a new leader for the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.
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