Pope Francis Dies at 88, Day After Easter Appearance

Photo: Instagram/@franciscus

Pope Francis passed away on Monday morning at the age of 88, just one day after he made a much-awaited appearance at Saint Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday. The news was shared by the Vatican in a heartfelt message.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced in a statement, “This morning at 7:35 a.m. (0535 GMT), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father.” The message was posted on the Vatican’s official Telegram channel.

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Pope Francis had been in the hospital since the middle of February. He was first treated for bronchitis, but his condition worsened and turned into pneumonia in both lungs. He had been dealing with several health issues over the years, especially related to his breathing. Despite being unwell, he still met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Sunday.

Francis had been the leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013. He was the first pope from South America and the first member of the Jesuit order to become pope. He was born in Argentina and brought a warm and friendly style to the role, which made him very popular. He became pope after Benedict XVI stepped down.

Many people admired Pope Francis for his kindness, simple lifestyle, and open heart. His leadership helped bring new energy and hope to over 1.4 billion Catholics around the world.

His passing marks the end of an important chapter in the history of the Catholic Church.