Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church for more than a decade, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. The Vatican confirmed his death at 7:35 a.m. at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, inside Vatican City.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, released a statement: “The Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father… We commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God.” Francis had been in poor health for months, following a serious case of pneumonia.
On Sunday, less than 24 hours before his death, the Pope met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Vatican. The meeting took place in one of the reception rooms at the Vatican hotel where Francis lived. The Pope gave Vance chocolate Easter eggs for his children, along with a Vatican tie and rosaries. Their meeting came years after disagreements over U.S. immigration policy under the Trump administration.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires in 1936, he joined the Jesuits in 1958 after recovering from a life-threatening illness. He was ordained a priest in 1969 and appointed Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. In 2001, he became a cardinal under Pope John Paul II. On March 13, 2013, he was elected pope following the resignation of Benedict XVI. He took the name Francis in reference to Saint Francis of Assisi.
His time as pope was marked by an informal leadership style and consistent engagement with issues affecting marginalized populations. He addressed social and economic inequality, spoke out against capital punishment, and criticized environmental harm. Francis also expressed openness toward the LGBTQ community, drawing international attention for his stance.
Francis maintained contact with figures beyond religious circles. He held meetings with director Martin Scorsese, actors Sylvester Stallone and Whoopi Goldberg, and entertainers including Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon. His papacy became the focus of several documentaries. The Vatican organized screenings of select film and television works, including Io Capitano, a drama centered on migration. Interest in the papacy also extended into fiction, with the film Conclave released in 2023.
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In Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa announced a memorial mass for Pope Francis, scheduled for Wednesday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The liturgy will be led by the Latin Patriarch and the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries. This year’s Easter events at the site saw increased tension, including travel restrictions affecting Christian pilgrims from the West Bank and scuffles involving police at the entrance to the church.
