The World Mourns as Vatican Announces Death of Pope Francis
Pope Francis, the first Latin American Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away Monday at the age of 88. The news was confirmed by the Vatican Monday morning, according to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.
"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," Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, said in his announcement from the Casa Santa Marta.
Francis, who had been serving as the Pope since 2013, was previously admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days. He would end up spending 38 days in the hospital, where he had also been diagnosed with double pneumonia.
A number of reactions to the Pope's death were posted online.
In a statement by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, who is the acting Archbishop of Canterbury, the Pope's ministry was "centered on Jesus who comes among us not to be served, but to serve."
"We saw that compellingly in Francis's service of the poor, his love of neighbour especially the displaced, migrant, the asylum seeker, his deep compassion for the well-being of the earth and his desire to lead and build the church in new ways," he added.
"Francis showed us how to follow Jesus and encouraged us to go and do likewise."
A statement on the death of His Holiness, Pope Francis.@Pontifex pic.twitter.com/cqrT1dEQjB
— Archbishop of York (@CottrellStephen) April 21, 2025
Rest in Peace, Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!" President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Vice President JD Vance, who visited Pope Francis on Sunday, also shared his thoughts.
"I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him," he wrote.
"I was happy to see him yesterday (Sunday), though he was obviously very ill. But I'll always remember him for the.... homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful."
I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) April 21, 2025
I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days…
At the present time, however, the Pope's cause of death remains unknown. According to The Christian Post, his last public appearance was on Sunday after he shared a traditional Easter blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, the Pope was one of five children of an Italian immigrant couple. He was ordained as a priest in 1969 and later became archbishop Buenos Aires in 1998 and was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001. In 2013, he succeeded Pope Benedict XVI as the next Pope.
Over his papacy, Bergoglio is remembered for his inclusive approach to the Catholic Church, including comments on same-sex relationships such as in 2013, when he made headlines for asking, "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?"
Despite reaffirming that homosexuality is a sin, Francis approved a measure in 2023 that allows Roman Catholic priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples as long as it's not related to marriage since such relationships are considered sinful.
He also showed efforts to increase women's presence in the Church as well as addressed issues such as priest sex abuse and climate change.
Let's Talk about it!
As the world mourns the death of Pope Francis, many are left reflecting on the profound impact of his papacy. For over a decade, he championed humility, compassion, and reform, reaching out to the marginalized and urging the Church to care for creation and return to Christ-centered living. While many celebrated his efforts to bridge tradition with modern challenges, others grappled with his bold steps toward open dialogue and reform. With the Chair of St. Peter now empty, believers everywhere are considering what legacy Pope Francis leaves behind and what his passing means for global Christianity, interfaith relations, and unity within the Church. We invite you to share your thoughts on Crosswalk Forums - click here to join the conversation.
Related Article: Pope Francis Hospitalized for Bronchitis, Vatican Cancels Upcoming Events
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Buda Mendes/Staff
Originally published April 21, 2025.
