Pope Francis died today, Monday, April 21, 2025. The pontiff, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away at the age of 88 in Rome at Casa Santa Marta, where he had been transferred after being hospitalized at Policlinico Gemelli.
The news of the Pope’s death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell in the early morning hours: “At 7:35 a.m . the Bishop of Rome returned to the house of the Father.” The cardinal recalled how Pope Francis’ life had been “dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church” and how he had “ taught to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized.”
The Pope’s worsening health condition
The pontiff had been hospitalized in recent days at Policlinico Gemelli for an aggravation of his health condition, before being transferred to Casa Santa Marta, his usual residence since the beginning of his pontificate. In recent years Pope Bergoglio had suffered from several health problems, including breathing difficulties and knee problems that had forced him to use a wheelchair on several occasions. Despite repeated physical difficulties, the Pope had tirelessly continued his pastoral mission until his final days.
His last public appearance precisely at Easter
Just a day before his passing, Pope Francis had shown himself to the crowds: the Pontiff had not wanted to miss the traditional Easter liturgy, appearing on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to impart the Urbi et Orbi blessing to thousands of moved faithful.
In a weary but firm voice, Pope Bergoglio made a final appeal for world peace, the central theme of his pontificate.
After the blessing, contrary to medical advice, he wished to bid farewell to the faithful aboard the popemobile, making a final splash in St. Peter’s Square. Those present noted his frailty, but also his determination to be close to his people until the very end.
What would become his last public appearance perfectly represented the hallmarks of his pontificate: simplicity, closeness to the faithful and tireless commitment to peace.
The revolutionary pontificate of the “Pope of the Poor”
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope on March 13, 2013, becoming the 266th pontiff of the Catholic Church. He was the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to become pontiff, succeeding Benedict XVI who had surprised the world with his resignation in February of that year.
The election of Pope Francis marked a historic moment in the Church, not only because of the unprecedented succession to a surviving pope emeritus, but also because of the choice of the name “Francis,” never before used by a pontiff, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. His choice to reside in Casa Santa Marta, instead of the Apostolic Apartment, immediately revealed the sober style that would characterize his 12-year pontificate.
During his pontificate, Pope Francis published four encyclicals: “Lumen fidei” in 2013, dedicated to faith; “Laudato si'” in 2015, focused on caring for the environment; “Fratelli tutti” in 2020, on fraternity and social friendship; and “Dilexit nos” in 2024, on human and divine love and devotion to the heart of Jesus.
How the Catholic Church has changed under Pope Francis
The Church under the leadership of Pope Francis has undergone a profound transformation, marked by a return to the essentials of the Gospel message. The pontiff has promoted an “outgoing Church,” capable of reaching the “existential peripheries” of humanity. His phrase “Who am I to judge?”, uttered in reference to homosexual persons, marked a more open and merciful approach to all the faithful.
Bergoglio initiated major structural reforms, from Vatican finances to the Roman Curia, giving a strong impetus to the decentralization of the Church. He strengthened the role of the Synod of Bishops and established a “Council” of the Pope composed of cardinals from all continents. His cardinal appointments rewarded small peripheral entities at the expense of historic sees, making the College of Cardinals less Eurocentric and more representative of the Global South.
On the social front, he established the World Day of the Poor and strengthened the Apostolic Elemosinery to distribute aid to the needy. He has consistently urged the Church and governments not to forget those in need, working for social justice and policies to benefit the most vulnerable. His commitment to ecology, expressed in the encyclical “Laudato si’,” has focused on caring for the planet as everyone’s responsibility, emphasizing the interconnection between nature and man.
In 2019, he convened the Synod on Amazonia to discuss the environmental and social challenges of the region, culminating in the apostolic exhortation “Querida Amazonia.”
What will happen now that the pope is dead?
With the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church enters the sede vacante period. The Pontiff’s solemn funeral will take place in St. Peter’s Basilica in the coming days, with the participation of heads of state and government from around the world, as well as thousands of faithful who will want to bid farewell to the “pope of the poor.”
According to established rules, the Cardinal Chamberlain will temporarily take over the leadership of the Church while the College of Cardinals organizes the Conclave for the election of the new pontiff. The cardinal electors, those under the age of 80, will gather in the Sistine Chapel to vote for Pope Francis’ successor.
The next pope will inherit a Church profoundly transformed by Bergoglio’s pontificate, more attentive to the peripheries, the poor and environmental issues. He will have to confront the reforms initiated by Pope Francis and the challenges of a rapidly changing world while keeping alive the spirit of evangelical renewal that has characterized these past 12 years.
Pope Francis’ death marks the end of an era of profound renewal for the Catholic Church, but his message of mercy, care for the least and care for creation will continue to illuminate the path of the faithful around the world.