Pope Francis, who was the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died at 07:35AM on Easter Monday. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta saying,

“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house 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 fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized.”

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936 as the eldest of five children, Pope Francis has been the head of the Catholic Church since 2013. He was elected after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in February 2013. A papal conclave was convened and after five ballots on March 13, 2013, Bergoglio was elected pope. 

He became the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic church and chose the name Francis, inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi, reflecting his commitment to humility and care for the marginalized.

He was also the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European pontiff in over a millennium.

“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 the One and Triune God,” added Cardinal Kevin Farrell.

The 88 years old Pope's death comes barely 24 hours after he made an appearance at the Vatican's St Peter's Square for Easter Sunday, where he came out in a wheelchair and waved from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica to cheering crowds and said: "Dear brothers and sisters, happy Easter.”

The Pope had been admitted at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days.

However, Pope Francis’ clinical situation gradually worsened, and his doctors diagnosed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18 but  returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery, after 38 days in hospital.

The Pope struggled with respiratory issues stemming from a surgery he underwent in his early 20s to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection in his native Argentina, in 1957.

Thus Pope Francis frequently suffered bouts of respiratory illnesses, even cancelling a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation.

Pope Francis's papacy was marked by efforts to reform the Church, address social issues, and promote a message of compassion and inclusivity. He advocated for migrants, criticised economic inequality, and pushed for greater inclusion within the Church.

Ecclesiastical journey 

Before ascending to the papacy, Bergoglio pursued a path marked by humility and dedication. He initially earned a chemical technician's diploma before joining the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1958. Ordained as a priest in 1969, he became the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina from 1973 to 1979. In 1998, he was appointed Archbishop of Buenos Aires and was elevated to cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001.

Fun fact: Pope Francis worked as a nightclub bouncer in Buenos Aires before entering the priesthood. He also held other jobs, such as sweeping floors and working in a chemical laboratory during his youth.

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