Vatican City: Pope Francis (88), the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church passed away on Monday, sending millions across the world into mourning, barely a day after Easter. His passing was announced by the Vatican camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Ferrell.
“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 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 God, One and Tribune,” Farrell said in the announcement.
Pope Francis was suffering from pneumonia for the last few months. The Vatican will now observe a 14-day period of mourning after which the Cardinals will sit together to select a new leader.
His health had been a concern for some time, particularly after he spent five weeks in the hospital for pneumonia, from which he narrowly recovered. He was discharged on March 23. In the lead-up to his passing, he had missed significant Holy Week events for the first time since becoming pope in 2013, delegating many of his duties to Cardinals.
Pope Francis, on Sunday, had wished the crowds on St Peter’s Square a “Happy Easter” as he waved and in his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and and the World”) benediction he called for freedom of thought and tolerance. Notably, he did not celebrate the Easter Mass in the piazza, delegating it to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St Peter’s Basilica.
However, after the Mass ended, Francis appeared on the loggia balcony over the Basilica entrance for more than 20 minutes and imparted the apostolic blessing in Latin. The thousands of people below erupted in cheers as a military band kicked off rounds of the Holy See anthem. He interacted with attendees, and even gave chocolates to children. The Pope also met US vice president J D Vance on Sunday.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969. After Pope Benedict XVI resigned on February 28, 2013, a papal conclave convened and elected Cardinal Bergoglio as the new pope on March 13. He took the name Francis in tribute to Saint Francis of Assisi.
