Mon Apr 21 08:30:38 UTC 2025: ## Pope Francis Dies at 88; World Mourns Loss of Beloved Pontiff

**Vatican City, April 22, 2025** – Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope and a widely beloved figure, passed away on Monday at the age of 88. The Vatican announced that he died from a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure. His death has triggered a period of mourning across the globe, with numerous countries declaring national days of mourning.

Italy has declared five days of national mourning, while other nations, including Poland, East Timor, and Brazil, have announced periods of mourning ranging from three to seven days. Many world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have announced plans to attend Pope Francis’s funeral, scheduled for Saturday, April 26th, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square. Indian representation will include representatives from the Tamil Nadu and Kerala state governments.

Pope Francis’s funeral will be followed by a conclave to elect his successor. The process, involving centuries-old rituals and Latin terms, is expected to begin around May 6th. The selection of a new Pope will be a significant event for the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church.

Pope Francis’s legacy is one of humility, social justice, and interfaith dialogue. He championed the poor and marginalized, and his visits to conflict zones, including Iraq, brought hope to many. His death has been met with an outpouring of grief and tributes from around the world, highlighting his profound impact on global society. His final wish was to be buried simply in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a departure from Vatican tradition.

Read More