Archive April 21, 2025

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, has died aged 88, the Vatican says.

His death on Monday came shortly after a bout of double pneumonia that kept him hospitalised for five weeks at Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital.

Just a day earlier, the pontiff made what would be his final major appearance as he greeted thousands of Easter worshippers from an open-top popemobile in St Peter’s Square and delivered a blessing through an aide.

The death of the 266th pope has sparked tributes from across the world:

Italy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni mourned the loss of “a great man, a great shepherd” and expressed deep sorrow.

“I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice, his teachings, which never ceased, not even during times of trial and suffering,” she said. “We say goodbye to the holy father with a heart full of sadness. ”

Italy’s football authorities postponed matches scheduled for Monday.

Argentina

The presidency office said that it deeply “regretted” the death of the first Argentine leader of the Catholic Church. Chainsaw-wielding President Javier Milei, who previously clashed with the pope, praised Francis’ focus on inter-religious dialogue, encouragement of spirituality amongst the young, and focus on cost-cutting in the Vatican.

European Union

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Francis’s life was defined by his efforts to build a fairer and more peaceful world. “He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate,” she said.

United States

The White House shared a tribute on social media, writing “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis” alongside a photo of the pope meeting President Donald Trump and the first lady. Vice President JD Vance, who met the pope on Sunday, said; “My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. ”

Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his “sincere condolences,” praising the efforts of Francis to strengthen ties between the Russian Orthodox and Catholic Churches. The Moscow Patriarchate echoed the sentiment, saying the late pontiff had played a key role in advancing dialogue between the two branches of Christianity.

India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said:  “Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope. ”

France

French President Emmanuel Macron praised the pontiff for his enduring solidarity with society’s most vulnerable. “In this time of war and brutality, he had a sense for the other, for the most fragile,” Macron said, commending his humility.

Philippines

In the Philippines, which boasts Asia’s largest Catholic population, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr called Francis “the best pope in my lifetime,” praising his humility, faith, and compassion for the poor. Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David expressed shock and urged churches to ring their bells and call people to prayer for the pope’s “eternal repose”.

Poland

Polish President Andrzej Duda hailed Francis as “a great apostle of mercy”, saying the pontiff’s example offered answers to contemporary challenges. “In his pastoral ministry, he was guided by humility and simplicity. ”

Spain

Spain has declared three days of mourning. Justice Minister Felix Bolanos said in a televised address that the country regrets “the death of a good man and a great pope,” and praised Francis’s “reformist” papacy that “will leave a legacy for history”.

Australia

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Francis would be mourned by Australians of all faiths, describing him as “a devoted champion and loving father” to Catholics. “His compassion embraced all humanity,” Albanese told ABC News. “He urged us to hear the cry of the earth and remember all we share. ”

Ethiopia

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the pope’s passing was a loss not only for Catholics but for humanity. “May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his legacy of compassion, humility and service to humanity continue to inspire generations to come,” he said.

East Timor

President Jose Ramos-Horta described Francis’s death as a global loss. He announced the nation’s flags would be lowered to half-staff for a week with a Mass to follow in tribute to the pope’s life and service.

Germany

Friedrich Merz, Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting, said Francis would be remembered for his unwavering commitment to the marginalised. “He was guided by humility and faith in God’s mercy,” Merz wrote on X.

Iran

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged Francis’s global spiritual influence. Spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Iran “extends condolences to all Christians around the world. ”

United Kingdom

Pope Francis has died aged 88, the Vatican announced on April 21, 2025.

His death came one day after a brief appearance to thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square for the Vatican’s open-air Easter Sunday mass.

Here is more about Pope Francis, and what happens now:

Who was Pope Francis?

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936.

He later chose Francis as his name to honour Saint Francis of Assisi.

Francis was declared pope on March 13, 2013, becoming the leader of the world’s 1. 4 billion Roman Catholics  after his predecessor, Benedict XVI, became the first pope to resign in 600 years.

Francis challenged the conventions followed by pontiffs before him. He pushed for a more transparent Vatican, connected to the concerns of common people and engaged with other faiths.

During Christmas address in 2024, Francis denounced the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza, saying: “May there be a ceasefire, may the hostages be released and aid be given to the people worn out by hunger and by war”.

He would repeat his message of concern for Gaza in his address at the Easter mass, a day before his death. Briefly appearing on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, he condemned the “deplorable humanitarian situation” caused by Israel’s 18-month war on the Palestinian territory.

Francis also assembled an advisory council of cardinals and launched a probe into the Vatican Bank, which was accused of money laundering and corruption.

He promised to investigate church abuses, establishing the first papal commission to look into that. He also launched a global system for Catholics to report cases of abuse and cover-ups.

But critics accused the pontiff of opposing reforms that would have addressed the problem of sexual abuse by clerics.

What was the cause of the Pope’s death?

Pope Francis suffered severe complications in recent weeks after a bout of double pneumonia for which he spent five weeks in hospital.

He was admitted to hospital in Rome  on February 14 for bronchitis, which he had been diagnosed with eight days prior but he  continued to preside over general audiences and an outdoor mass.

He was released on March 23, with expectations that he would resume his duties gradually.

What do we know about the funeral, the burial and the next days?

The pope’s passing marks the beginning of nine days of mourning called the Novendiale.

His body is dressed in papal vestments and placed in St Peter’s Basilica for public viewing. Hundreds and thousands of people line up to pay their respects.

Here is what typically happens after a pope passes away.

Location and timing

The funeral will likely take place in St Peter’s Square, with a service led by the dean of the College of Cardinals. The current dean is Giovanni Battista Re, 91.

Who attends

Dignitaries from all over the world attend the funeral mass for the pontiffs.

Pope John Paul II died in April 2005, his funeral becoming one of the largest gatherings of world leaders in history.

The attendees included four kings, five queens and about 70 presidents and prime ministers.

In total, approximately four million people attended the funeral.

Funeral mass

Daily prayer services and requiem masses will be held in Catholic churches worldwide and at St Peter’s Basilica.

Burial

The burial typically takes place four to six days after the death.

Previous popes have been buried in three coffins, cypress, lead and elm, placed one inside the other.

However, Francis wishes to be buried in one coffin made of wood and zinc. Francis’s predecessor was also buried with a paper scroll, or a rogito, which retells their life and papacy.

Popes are traditionally buried in the Vatican Grottoes on the lower level of Saint Peter’s Basilica. While not all popes are buried there, nearly 100 are, including Francis’s predecessor, Benedict XVI, who passed away in 2022.

However, Francis told an interview in 2023 that he wants to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome’s Esquilino.

Only seven popes have been buried here, the last one being Clement IX in 1669.

The election of the new pope

After the death of a pope, the Vatican enters a transitional period called the sede vacante or interregnum, where power is handed over to the College of Cardinals, but no major decisions are made until the papacy is filled.

About 15-20 days after the pope’s death, cardinals under the age of 80 convene at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, which is sealed off, to elect the new pontiff through a secret ballot.

Voting takes place in up to four rounds a day until a candidate wins two-thirds of the vote. If there is no decision after 33 rounds of voting, the top two candidates face off in a run-off vote.

Ballots are burned, and for every unsuccessful vote, black smoke is released from the Sistine Chapel.