THE Catholic Church is in mourning following the death of Pope Francis, who passed away at 7:35 AM on Monday, March 24, 2025, at his residence in Casa Santa Marta after a prolonged illness. He was 87.
The announcement was made by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, at 9:45 AM, who addressed the faithful with solemn words:
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. […] We commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, became the 266th Bishop of Rome and the first Jesuit Pope in history. Elected in 2013, he was also the first Pope from the Southern Hemisphere and the first non-European pontiff in over a millennium.
The Pope had been battling health complications for years, particularly respiratory issues. He was admitted to Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on February 14, suffering from bronchitis. His condition worsened over the following days, and doctors diagnosed him with bilateral pneumonia on February 18.
After 38 days in hospital care, Pope Francis was discharged and returned to Casa Santa Marta in early April to continue his recovery. However, his health declined rapidly in the final weeks.
His vulnerability to respiratory illness had long been known. In 1957, at the age of 21, Bergoglio had a portion of his right lung removed due to a severe infection. In recent years, he suffered frequent illnesses, including a cancelled trip to the UAE in 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation.
Despite his health challenges, Pope Francis continued his work with unrelenting dedication. Just a year before his death, in April 2024, he approved a revised edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the Church’s liturgical guide for papal funeral rites. The updated rite reflects his desire for simplicity and spiritual focus in death, just as in life.
Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, shared that Pope Francis requested a funeral that reflected the humility and faith of a pastor rather than the grandeur of worldly power.
“The renewed rite seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ,” said Ravelli.
As per the new protocol, the Pope’s body was transferred to the chapel immediately after death, where the formal ascertainment of death was made before being placed in the coffin.
Funeral details have yet to be formally announced, but preparations are underway, following the guidelines of the revised liturgical rites.
Pope Francis will be remembered for his unwavering compassion, devotion to the poor and marginalized, and his relentless call for mercy, inclusion, and peace. His papacy was marked by bold reforms, outreach to other faiths, and a reorientation of the Church toward service and humility.
Flags at the Vatican fly at half-mast, and Catholics around the world are uniting in prayer for a leader who reshaped the papacy with warmth, courage, and grace.
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