On Monday, April 21st, 2025, Pope Francis was found dead at 7:35 a.m. Italy time by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, at the age of 88. He was the first Latin American pope in the Church’s 2000 year history, and had been pope for over 12 years. The news of his death sent shockwaves throughout the world, and people quickly began giving their condolences to the pope and his loved ones. The Vatican explained his positive impact on the world, stating, “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.”
His death came after months of health issues. Earlier in the year, he was diagnosed with double pneumonia, which is when both lungs are filled with pus and fluid. This caused the pope to have difficulty breathing, and it forced him to be hospitalized for several weeks. His death came shortly after he was discharged from the hospital, and the media speculates that he most likely succumbed to the disease without their aid.
Pope Francis lived a long, full life with lots of success. Born on December 17th, 1936, he was the oldest child in a family of 7. He began training to become a priest at 16, but 3 years later, he started training to become a Jesuit. He achieved his goal when he was 36, as he became the head of the Jesuit order, proving his incredible leadership skills. He was noted for his generosity towards the poor, as he would regularly visit poorer areas of the city, use his office as a storeroom for food and clothes to donate, and had a modest lifestyle compared to other popes, who had more lavish lives.
He became a cardinal in 2001 and a national church leader shortly after. When the 2013 conclave began, which is a private meeting of cardinals under the age of 80 to decide the new pope, Francis delivered an impressive speech that earned him the support of many cardinals, with his kindness and humility also helping. He was elected pope on March 13th, 2013, which led to a new era of papal simplicity.
Pope Francis quickly began making changes. He was known for supporting marginalized groups such as immigrants, emphasizing environmentalism and social justice, and for his outreach to the LGBTQ+ community. He has also publicly criticized economic inequality and injustices in the world, proving his boldness and courage. During the pandemic, he live-streamed his services in quarantine, and he had over 500,000 people tuning in each day to hear his thoughts.
Millions of people from around the world, especially Catholics, mourned his death. World leaders like Donald Trump, the president of the United States, also commented on the situation. He said, “I just signed an executive order putting the flags of our country, all of them, all federal flags and state flags, at half mast in honor of Pope Francis. He was a good man, worked hard. He loved the world. And it’s an honor to do that.”
His funeral took place on April 26th in St. Peter’s Square, with thousands of people going to his funeral to pay their respects. Pope Francis’s will stated that he wanted to be buried in a simple tomb in Rome, so he was buried in St. Mary Major in Rome, inside a simple wooden coffin. He chose this location due to his devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. This deviates from where the pope is usually buried, as St. Peter’s Basilica is the traditional spot.
The pope who succeeds Pope Francis will be decided by cardinals in another conclave, which takes place 15-20 days after the pope’s death. Pope Francis did many great things during his lifetime, and his kindness and compassion will be remembered for years to come.
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/21/europe/pope-francis-obituary-intl/index.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/pope-francis-has-died-vatican-says-video-statement-2025-04-21/
https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/pope-francis-dead-at-88-vatican-camerlengo-says
