Pope Francis has died at the age of 88 after serving 12 years as the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The news was announced on Monday, April 21, by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican’s camerlengo.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” Farrell said in an official statement.
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized,” it continued.
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Triune,” Farrel’s statement concluded.
Pope Francis’ passing comes a day after he made a rare public appearance on Easter Sunday, greeting over 35,000 people at St. Peter’s Square from his wheelchair and popemobile.
In his final post on his official X page, Pope Francis shared a heartfelt and hopeful Easter message, which read, “Christ is risen! These words capture the entire meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life.”
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis made history in 2013 when he became the first Jesuit and first Latin American pope.
Tributes poured from Catholics around the globe on social media, including celebrities and world leaders, mourning the loss of the spiritual leader whom Filipinos referred to as “Lolo Kiko” and honoring his papacy throughout his 12-year pontificate.
