Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. The Vatican announced that he died at 7:35 a.m. CEST at his residence in the Domus Sanctae Marthae within Vatican City. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, made the announcement, highlighting the Pope’s lifelong dedication to the service of the Lord and the Church .​
Pope Francis was the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and the first from Latin America. He was also the first Jesuit and the first non-European pope in over a millennium. His papacy, which began in March 2013, was marked by a focus on humility, social justice, and outreach to marginalized communities.
Throughout his tenure, Pope Francis addressed pressing global issues, including climate change, economic inequality, and the rights of refugees and migrants. He also worked to reform the Catholic Church, particularly in response to the clerical sexual abuse crisis .​
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In the weeks leading up to his death, Pope Francis had been recovering from a prolonged health crisis involving double pneumonia. Despite his illness, he delivered his final Easter blessing from St. Peter’s Basilica on April 20, 2025 .​
Following his passing, the Catholic Church has entered a period of mourning. Preparations are underway for the papal conclave, where up to 120 cardinal electors under the age of 80 will gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope. The conclave process involves daily ballots, with a two-thirds majority required to elect a new pontiff
