Francis The 266th Pope Of The Roman Catholic Church Dies After Battle With Illness.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 after battling a serious bout of double pneumonia that he appeared to have conquered.
“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican’s TV channel on April 21.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” he said.
Francis, who a day before his death had made his first major public appearance for Easter services, was the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the first from the Americas, the first Jesuit, and the first pontiff born outside Europe in over a millennium.
Pope Francis has died in Rome aged 88, the Vatican announces.
Bergoglio, the son of Italian immigrants, worked as a chemical technician before entering the Jesuits in 1958.
He was ordained a priest in 1969 and became the Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in Argentina from 1973 to 1979.
In 1998, he was appointed Archbishop of Buenos Aires. Three years later, he was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II.
Elected Pope in 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, he chose the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, reflecting his commitment to humility and the poor.
His papacy was marked by a focus on mercy, social justice, and environmental stewardship.
‘Painful And Shameful’ — Pope Francis On The Ukraine War
Pope Francis, who died on April 21, Easter Monday, did not deliver his final annual Angelus address in person.
But the text of his address said the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24 was “a painful and shameful occasion for all of humanity.”
He went on to voice “solidarity with the martyred Ukrainian people.”
The Pontiff’s death-bed statement was his last attempt to give the Vatican a voice in the conflict.
While he was clearly sympathetic to the plight of Ukrainians, Pope Francis’ previous interventions were not always welcomed by Kyiv.
He raised particular ire in March 2024 by calling on Ukraine to find “the courage of the white flag” to enter peace talks with Russia.
He later said that the “first condition” for peace was that Russia “put an end to its aggression.” But earlier, his avoidance of specific criticism of Russia was a cause of frustration.
In June 2022, he condemned the “cruelty” of Russian forces while also suggesting the war was “perhaps somehow provoked.”
This echoed a Kremlin argument, repeatedly made without evidence, that it was forced to attack.
— By Ray Furlong, senior international correspondent
In 2015, Pope Francis issued the encyclical “Laudato si’,” calling for global action on climate change and care for the environment.
He also emphasized interfaith dialogue, notably signing the Document on Human Fraternity with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in Egypt, Ahmed el-Tayeb, in 2019, a landmark agreement promoting peace and coexistence among different faiths.
Pope Francis was known for his pastoral approach, advocating for a “poor Church for the poor” and reaching out to marginalized communities.
He made efforts to reform the Vatican’s financial systems and address alleged clerical sexual abuse within the church.
In 2025, he published his autobiography, “Hope,” offering insights into his life and papal mission.
In his later years, Pope Francis faced several health challenges.
In 2021, he underwent colon surgery to address diverticulitis, and in 2023, he had abdominal surgery to repair a hernia. He also experienced chronic knee and back pain, often using a wheelchair for mobility.
Despite these issues, he maintained a rigorous schedule, continuing his pastoral duties and international travels.
In early 2025, Pope Francis was hospitalized with a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection, which developed into double pneumonia. His condition remained complex, requiring an extended hospital stay. He had been discharged from hospital on March 23.