Pope Francis passed away peacefully on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, in his residence at the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta.
At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, made the official announcement from Casa Santa Marta:
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father, Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His life was devoted entirely to the service of the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the Gospel with courage, fidelity, and universal love—especially towards the poor and the marginalized. With immense gratitude for his witness as a true disciple of Jesus Christ, we commend his soul to the infinite mercy of the Triune God.”
Pope Francis had been hospitalized at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic on February 14, 2025, following several days of bronchitis. His condition steadily declined, and on February 18, doctors diagnosed him with bilateral pneumonia. After spending 38 days in hospital, he returned to Casa Santa Marta to continue recovery, though his health remained fragile.
This was not the first time Pope Francis had suffered respiratory complications. In 1957, in his early twenties, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent lung surgery in Argentina after a severe infection. Throughout his papacy, he experienced recurring respiratory issues, including a canceled trip to the UAE in November 2023 due to flu and lung inflammation.
In April 2024, Pope Francis approved a revised edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the liturgical guide for papal funerals. This updated version will be used for his own funeral, the date of which is yet to be announced.
The second edition introduces new elements, including the transfer of the Pope’s remains directly from the chapel where his death is officially confirmed, rather than the room of death, into the coffin.
Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, noted that Pope Francis personally requested a simplified funeral focused on the Church’s faith in the Resurrection of Christ.
“The renewed rite,” said Archbishop Ravelli, “emphasizes that the funeral of a Roman Pontiff is that of a shepherd and disciple of Christ—not a worldly dignitary.”
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