Pope Francis, the 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church, passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, following complications from double pneumonia. He died peacefully at 7:35 a.m. at his residence in Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican, according to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber.

In his official announcement, Cardinal Farrell said:

“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis… 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."

Pope Francis had been battling worsening respiratory issues since his hospitalisation at Gemelli Hospital in Rome on February 14. Initially admitted with bronchitis, his condition deteriorated into bilateral pneumonia, requiring bronchoscopies and non-invasive mechanical ventilation.

After a five-week stay, he was discharged on March 23 and made a brief public appearance, offering a blessing from the hospital window. Just a day before his death, he held a high-profile meeting with US Vice President JD Vance, marking his first official engagement since his release.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina in 1936, Pope Francis was elected to the papacy in 2013. He made history as the first Jesuit pope, first from the Americas, and the first non-European pontiff in over a millennium.

Despite his physical ailments—chronic knee pain, a history of lung problems, and multiple surgeries—Francis remained an energetic reformer. He championed social justice, climate action, and inclusivity, often drawing both admiration and resistance within the Church.

His legacy includes outspoken advocacy for the poor and marginalized, bold calls for environmental stewardship, and efforts to modernize the Church’s stance on controversial issues such as immigration, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and clerical celibacy.

The Vatican is expected to announce funeral and succession plans in the coming days.