Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and one of the most influential religious figures of the 21st century, has died. He passed away peacefully at 7:35 a.m. on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88.
The Vatican confirmed the pontiff’s death in a somber statement, noting he died “peacefully” in his Vatican residence. No official cause has been released, though the Holy Father had faced recurring health challenges in recent years, including respiratory issues and mobility struggles.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis shattered centuries of tradition when he ascended to the papacy in 2013—becoming the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European leader of the Church in more than 1,200 years.
His 12-year papacy redefined the role of the Church in a fractured world. With a pastoral heart and prophetic voice, he championed the marginalized, confronted global injustice, and called for urgent care of the planet. His groundbreaking encyclicals, Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti, challenged world leaders and everyday believers alike to reimagine humanity’s relationship with the Earth and one another.
Pope Francis was more than a spiritual leader—he was a moral compass, urging a “revolution of tenderness” in a world increasingly hardened by division, greed, and war. From washing the feet of refugees to denouncing clerical abuse and financial corruption, his papacy was a bold, often controversial, journey of reform.
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As news of his death reverberates around the world, tributes are flooding in from religious and political leaders. Vatican flags now fly at half-mast, and preparations are underway for what is expected to be one of the largest papal funeral Masses in modern history.
The College of Cardinals will soon gather in Rome to begin the sacred process of electing a new pope.
In life, he walked with the wounded. In death, he leaves behind a Church forever changed.
