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Sunday, May 4, 2025

Pope Francis Dies at 88

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Pope Francis has died at the age of 88. According to the Vatican, he passed away at 7:35 AM local time on Easter Monday.

The BBC reports that world leaders are paying tribute to the pontiff’s “contagious smile” and “boundless compassion.”

 

Among them is South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who praised Pope Francis for advancing a worldview centered on inclusion, equality, and care for marginalized individuals and communities.

 

“Catholics and people of all faiths are saddened today by the passing of a spiritual leader who sought to unite humanity and envisioned a world governed by fundamental human values,” Ramaphosa said.

“His extraordinary life story and rise to the Holy See unfolded with humility and a profound commitment to improving both the Church and the world.”

 

The Pope’s passing, coming so soon after the Easter celebrations, is expected to extend the traditional period of prayer and reflection. The Church and the global community are now united in honoring the life and legacy of a deeply admired leader.

 

Shocked mourners have begun gathering in St. Peter’s Square to pay their respects. Pope Francis had recently been discharged from hospital following five weeks of treatment for an infection.

 

With his death, the Vatican will now begin the centuries-old process of electing a new pope.

 

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis served as head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2013 until his death in 2025.

 

He made history as the first pope from the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order), the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere, and the first non-European pope since the 8th-century Syrian-born Pope Gregory III.

 

Bergoglio joined the Jesuits in 1958 after recovering from a serious illness and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969. From 1973 to 1979, he served as the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina. He was appointed Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and elevated to cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.

 

He led the Argentine Church during the country’s economic and social crisis in 2001 and was regarded as a political rival by the administrations of Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

 

Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Bergoglio was elected pope on 13 March 2013, choosing the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.

 

As pope, he was known for his humility, focus on God’s mercy, and his advocacy for the poor and marginalized. He also emphasized interfaith dialogue and brought international visibility to many social justice issues.

 

Francis broke with papal tradition by residing in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, exemplifying his simpler, more approachable style.

 

Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy marked by compassion, reform, and an unwavering call for global unity and understanding.

 

This article has been amended since it was first published

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