Pope Francis Dies On Easter Monday

Monday, 21 April 2025 12:58

The pontiff passed away at the age of 88 on Monday morning.

Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.

The Vatican, through Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced the pontiff's passing this morning at 9.45am:

"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. 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."

The Pope had recently overcome a 38 day stay in hospital after suffering pneumonia before returning to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery.

Argentina's Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the Roman Catholic Church's 266th Pope, and the first from Latin America in March 2013.

His papacy will be remembered for his focus on the poor, and disenfranchised of the world.

He also stood in opposition to some of the more conservative doctrine of the Church.

According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, the late Pope Francis had requested that the funeral rites be simplified and focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ.

The Bishop of Clonfert, Micael Duignan, is describing Pope Francis as "an ever faithful servant in the vineyard of the Lord."

"In word and deed, he pointed to a loving and merciful God who reaches out to embrace all people. He had a big heart for the poor, the migrant, the marginalised. He dreamed of a Church as the people of God working together to make this often darkened world of ours a better place. I pray that he now enjoys the presence of God himself whom he loved with all his heart and served so faithfully in this life. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam”.

While Bishop Fintan Monohan of the Killaloe Diocese says:

"The Pope dedicated his life to the Gospel, standing with the poor and the marginalized, and guiding the Church with humility and courage."

Cardinal Kevin Farrell will preside over the rite of the ascertainment of death of Pope Francis and placement of his body in the coffin on Monday evening: