Mon Apr 21 11:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Pope Francis, the “People’s Pope,” Dies on Easter Monday

**Rome, Italy** – Pope Francis, the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years, passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. His death, which occurred at 7:35 AM local time, came as a surprise to many, following a high-profile Easter Sunday appearance where he delivered the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing from St. Peter’s Basilica and met with US Vice President JD Vance.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo (acting head), announced the Pope’s death, describing him as a “faithful servant of Christian doctrine” dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church. He praised Francis’s commitment to Gospel values and his advocacy for the poor and marginalized.

World leaders mourned the loss, with President Joe Biden calling Francis the “People’s Pope,” a light of faith, hope, and love. Biden praised the late pontiff’s work on behalf of the marginalized and his advocacy for peace and climate action. Other tributes poured in from around the globe, including messages from King Charles III, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Pope Francis’s death initiates a period of mourning, followed by a conclave of cardinals under 80 to elect his successor. This process is expected to take two to three weeks. Cardinal Farrell, currently serving as camerlengo, will oversee the interim period. St. Peter’s Square filled with mourners upon the announcement of his death.

Pope Francis’s final resting place will be the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, a break from tradition. He had expressed a strong personal connection to the basilica.

While Pope Francis’s health had declined in recent years, including a recent hospitalization for pneumonia, his Easter appearances provided little indication of his imminent passing. Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, noted the seemingly serendipitous timing of his death on Easter Monday, calling it “perfect” in a way only God could orchestrate.

The late Pope’s legacy includes significant reforms within the Vatican, a focus on social justice, and outspoken criticism of global inequalities. However, his papacy also faced challenges, including continued struggles to address the sexual abuse crisis within the Catholic Church. His death marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Catholic Church, one that will be shaped by the selection of his successor.

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