Vatican Confirms Pope Francis’ Death at Age 88
The Vatican has officially announced the passing of Pope Francis at 88 years of age. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who assumed the papacy in March 2013, died on Monday, April 21, according to Vatican officials.
A video statement released by the Vatican confirmed: “Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.”
The pontiff’s health had been deteriorating since February when he was transported to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital with a respiratory infection. His condition progressed from chronic bronchitis to pneumonia affecting both lungs, accompanied by mild kidney failure.
In March, the Pope experienced what Vatican officials described as an “isolated attack of bronchospasm resulting in vomiting with inhalation and sudden respiratory decline.” Throughout his hospitalization, the Vatican provided regular updates, noting that while the Pope maintained “good humor” and “slept well,” his condition remained “critical” with an “uncertain” prognosis despite his cooperation with medical treatments.
Just two months ago, on February 23, Pope Francis requested prayers from Catholics worldwide after being unable to deliver the traditional Angelus prayer for a second consecutive Sunday.
Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on Monday: “At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home 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 faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. 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 God, One and Tribune.”
The Pope’s vulnerability to lung infections stemmed from pleurisy contracted in his youth, which resulted in partial lung removal. During his 12-year leadership, he received treatment at Gemelli Hospital several times, including for bronchitis in March 2023.
Pope Francis’s papacy was marked by numerous historical firsts. He was the first Jesuit to become Pope, with members of the Society of Jesus dedicating their lives to Christ. He was also the first Latin American pontiff, having been born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the first Pope in approximately 1,200 years to originate from outside Europe since the Syrian Pope Gregory III.
Taking his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Pope earned recognition for his progressive stance and humility. He skillfully navigated between traditional church doctrine and more liberal perspectives, frequently addressing issues including the Ukrainian conflict, refugee crises, climate change, global inequality, and LGBTQ+ rights.
In 2023, Pope Francis denounced laws criminalizing homosexuality as sinful and approved blessings for same-sex civil unions. When questioned by journalists about homosexuality, he famously responded: “Who am I to judge?”
His reformist approach extended to increasing women’s representation in high-ranking Vatican positions. Breaking with tradition, he chose to live in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, a church guest house, rather than the ornate Apostolic Palace that housed his predecessors.