Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. He died at 7:35 a.m. in his residence at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he became the 266th pope in March 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European pontiff in over a millennium.
Known for his humility and focus on the marginalized, Pope Francis chose to live in the Vatican’s guesthouse rather than the traditional papal apartments. He emphasized caring for the poor and advocated for social justice throughout his papacy.
Pope Francis had faced several health challenges over the years, including a significant respiratory infection in his youth that led to the removal of part of his lung. In February 2025, he was hospitalized with bronchitis, which developed into double pneumonia. After a 38-day stay, he returned to the Vatican to continue his recovery.
In accordance with his wishes, Pope Francis had approved a simplified version of the papal funeral rites in April 2024, focusing on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ.
Details regarding his funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.