On Easter Monday, April 21, Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 in his residence at the Vatican, Casa Santa Marta, with Vatican News confirming reports on social media.
In a statement posted by the Vatican in its Telegram channel, Cardinal Kevin Farrell said, “Dearest brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT) the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church.”
The Pope struggled with respiratory issues and suffered a bout of pneumonia in February 2025. Vatican News reported that he died due to a stroke and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.
A Progressive Papacy
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, he took his vows as a Jesuit in 1973 and served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998 to 2013. Pope John Paul II appointed Bergoglio a cardinal in 2001.
In 2013, he became the first Jesuit Pope and was known for his humility and compassion. Vatican News calls him the “Pope of the peripheries” not only for his constant emphasis on mercy, peace, and “preferential option for the poor,” but also for pushing the church towards LGBTQ acceptance and encouraging dialogue between other Christian denominations and other religions.
In 2022, he apologized to indigenous peoples in Canada for the Catholic Church’s role in what the Pope called a “cultural genocide.” Amid conflicts in Gaza, Palestine, he also called for a ceasefire.
Pope Francis visited the Philippines in 2015 following the devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda. The same year, the Vatican established the Pope Francis Center for the Poor in Palo, Leyte, housing orphans and the elderly.
During his papacy, he also appointed three Filipino cardinals: Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, and Cotabato Archbishop Emeritus Orlando Cardinal Quevedo.
