Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, officially announced the Pope’s passing, stating, “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father”.
The Pope’s health had been a concern in recent years. In February 2025, he was hospitalized with severe bronchitis and bilateral pneumonia, leading to a 38-day stay at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.During this time, he also experienced early-stage kidney failure and required mechanical ventilation. Despite these challenges, he made a public appearance on Easter Sunday, April 20, delivering his final blessing from St. Peter’s Basilica.
Elected as the 266th pope on March 13, 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Francis was the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas. His papacy was marked by a focus on humility, social justice, and environmental issues. He addressed global concerns such as migration, climate change, and economic inequality, and took progressive stances on matters like LGBTQ+ rights and the abolition of the death penalty.
