Pope Francis passes away at 88

Vatican City: Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church and a transformative figure in modern papal history, has died at the age of 88. The announcement was made on Monday by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, who now oversees Church affairs during the interregnum—the period between papacies. He had suffered various ailments in his 12 year papacy.

At 9:45 AM on Easter Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, spoke these words at the Casa Santa Marta:

"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."

Pope Francis delivered the traditional Easter blessing on Sunday, greeting joyful crowds from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica after a brief meeting with United States Vice President JD Vance -- his most high-profile appearance since being discharged from the hospital.

Although the 88-year-old pontiff did not preside over the main Holy Week and Easter services, he made several brief appearances throughout the weekend, including a 30-minute visit to a Rome prison on Thursday and an appearance at St Peter's Basilica on Saturday evening.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis broke several precedents when he was elected to the papacy in 2013, following the unprecedented resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first from Latin America, and the first non-European to hold the role in over 1,200 years.

Known for his progressive views and a down-to-earth approach, Pope Francis steered the Church toward a focus on compassion, equality, and inclusion. He placed a strong emphasis on humility and service, frequently prioritising the poor and marginalised in his public addresses and travels.

Throughout his papacy, he initiated important reforms aimed at increasing financial transparency within the Vatican and took decisive steps to address long-standing issues of clerical abuse. His environmental encyclical Laudato Si’, published in 2015, became a defining document in the global conversation on climate change and moral responsibility.

In recent years, Pope Francis's declining health had raised concerns. He was hospitalised multiple times, particularly for respiratory illnesses. Earlier this year, he was treated for a severe case of double pneumonia. Despite these challenges, he continued to fulfil his duties as spiritual leader, often speaking candidly about mortality and the importance of preparing spiritually for the end of life.