Pope Francis, 88, passes away on Easter Monday

Pope Francis passed away at his home at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88.

Vatican News reports that at 9:45 a.m., Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, declared Pope Francis’s passing from the Casa Santa Marta, saying:

I regret to inform you of our Holy Father Francis’ passing, dear brothers and sisters. Francis, the Bishop of Rome, made his way back to the Father’s home at 7:35 this morning. His whole existence was devoted to serving the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live out the principles of the gospel with integrity, bravery, and love for all people, especially the most vulnerable and impoverished. Pope Francis’ example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus is greatly appreciated, and we praise his soul to the One and Triune God’s boundless mercy.

After battling bronchitis for several days, the Pope was hospitalized to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday.

As Pope Francis’ health steadily deteriorated, his physicians determined that he had bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18. The late Pope went back to his Vatican home at Casa Santa Marta to resume his recuperation after spending 38 days in the hospital.

Born in Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio had surgery in his early twenties in 1957 to remove a section of his lung that had been impacted by a serious respiratory ailment.

Pope Francis continued to experience respiratory ailments as he grew older, even postponing a November 2023 trip to the United Arab Emirates because of lung inflammation and influenza.

The liturgical book for papal funeral ceremonies was modified in April 2024 by the late Pope Francis, and it will serve as the guidance for the funeral Mass, which has not yet been declared.

How the Pope’s mortal remains are to be handled after death is one of the new features added to the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis in its second edition.

Instead of the chamber where he passed away, the ascertainment of death occurs in the chapel, and his body is promptly placed inside the coffin.

Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, stated that the late Pope Francis had asked for the funeral ceremonies to be streamlined and centered on demonstrating the Church’s belief in the Risen Body of Christ.

Archbishop Ravelli stated that the purpose of the updated ceremony is to further emphasize that the Roman Pontiff’s burial is that of a pastor and follower of Christ, not a prominent figure from this world.