Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on Monday (April 21) at the age of 88.
The Vatican announced his death, stating that the pope died at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.
“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness that I must announce the death of our Holy Father, Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell said on the Vatican’s television channel.
“At 7:35 a.m. this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
The Argentine pontiff had been recovering at the Santa Marta guesthouse after being hospitalized earlier this year for five weeks with life-threatening pneumonia. During his hospitalization, he nearly died twice.
Doctors reported that the double pneumonia severely damaged his lungs and strained his respiratory muscles. After being discharged on March 23, he returned to the Vatican to continue his recovery, which was expected to last at least two months.
In early April, the Vatican stated that a chest X-ray showed a “slight improvement” in Pope Francis’ lung condition, along with improvements in his motor skills, voice, and breathing.
Although he continued to use supplemental oxygen through a cannula, he was able to remove it for short periods.
The pope had openly acknowledged his fragile health, including in a statement issued on March 16.
“I am sharing these thoughts with you while I am facing a period of trial, and I join with so many brothers and sisters who are sick: fragile, at this time, like me,” he wrote.
“Our bodies are weak, but even so, nothing can prevent us from loving, praying, giving ourselves, being there for each other, and being shining signs of hope through our faith.”
When he was discharged from the Gemelli Hospital, he appeared on a hospital balcony in a wheelchair, waving from his lap to hundreds of pilgrims gathered below. Speaking in a weak voice through a microphone, he said, “Thank you, everyone.”
Pope Francis became head of the Catholic Church in March 2013, serving as the spiritual leader of 1.3 billion Roman Catholics worldwide.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936 to Italian immigrants in Argentina, he made history as the first Latin American pope.
Despite facing several health challenges, he remained an active pontiff, maintaining a busy weekly schedule and conducting regular overseas visits.
In September 2024, he completed a four-nation Asia-Pacific tour, including a visit to Singapore — the longest international journey of his papacy by both duration and distance.
Source: Agencies
