Pope Francis, the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church, has passed away at 88.
Vatican News confirmed his death in a post on X, “Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.”
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he made history in 2013 when he stepped onto that Vatican balcony as the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years.
His death came as a shock to many, particularly since he was recently seen riding through St. Peter’s Square, smiling and waving to cheering crowds on Easter Sunday.
His health had been on a slow decline in recent years. Earlier this year, he was battling double pneumonia and was hospitalized in Rome for over a month.
As the Vatican begins its nine-day mourning period, the College of Cardinals has said that Cardinal Kevin Farrell would become the interim pope until a new pontiff is selected.
Many say that Francis wasn’t afraid to ruffle feathers. His bold, often controversial views challenged tradition and pushed the Catholic Church toward uncomfortable but necessary conversations.
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