The Vatican has announced with deep sorrow the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, who died early this morning at the age of 88 after a prolonged struggle with respiratory complications and related health issues.
The pontiff, who had battled recurring bronchitis and declining mobility in recent years, passed away peacefully in his Vatican residence, surrounded by his closest aides and prayer.Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis became the first pope from Latin America and the first Jesuit to lead the Catholic Church when he was elected in 2013.
His papacy, which lasted over a decade, was marked by simplicity, inclusiveness, and an unwavering focus on the poor and the forgotten.Over the last year, the Pope’s public appearances had grown more limited. In several emotional addresses, he acknowledged his weakening health but remained steadfast in his spiritual duties, often asking the faithful to “pray not for a longer life, but a meaningful one.” His final Easter message, delivered with visible fatigue but unwavering resolve, was a call for peace, unity, and compassion in a troubled world.The Holy See confirmed that preparations for his funeral are underway, with a period of mourning declared across all Catholic institutions.
A grand Requiem Mass is scheduled to be held at St. Peter’s Basilica, with global leaders, faith representatives, and millions of Catholics expected to join in mourning the loss of a deeply loved and transformative spiritual leader.
World leaders have paid tribute, with messages pouring in from across continents. “Pope Francis was a bridge-builder,” said one African bishop. “Even in his illness, he showed us the strength of grace.”Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis faced his ailments with quiet endurance, using his suffering to echo the message he often preached — that human frailty is not a weakness, but a path to deeper empathy.As the world bids farewell, the legacy of Pope Francis endures — a man who led not from a throne, but from the heart.
