INTERNATIONAL NEWS - Today, 21 April, the Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, at the age of 88.
The first Latin American pope and the first Jesuit to lead the Roman Catholic Church, Francis succumbed to complications from a prolonged battle with double pneumonia, following a 38-day hospitalisation at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
His passing marks the end of a transformative 12-year papacy that reshaped the Church’s global presence and sparked both admiration and controversy.
Pope Francis was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on 14 February after experiencing severe respiratory difficulties. Diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs, his condition deteriorated, leading to multiple respiratory crises. Despite aggressive treatment, his health remained fragile, though he briefly returned to the Vatican after his discharge on 23 March.
His final public appearance was on Easter Sunday, 20 April, in St. Peter’s Square, where he delivered a blessing to the faithful.
Francis’ papacy was defined by his commitment to humility, social justice, and inclusivity. Choosing to reside in the modest Domus Sanctae Marthae rather than the Apostolic Palace, he embodied a less formal approach to the papacy.
He championed causes such as climate action, the abolition of the death penalty, and greater acceptance of marginalised groups, including the LGBTQ+ community, while maintaining traditional Church teachings.
His 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti called for global fraternity, and his reforms opened roles for women and lay Catholics in the Vatican.
However, his progressive stance often clashed with conservative factions, creating tensions within the Church.
His criticism of unbridled capitalism and his rebuke of political figures, such as U.S. Vice President JD Vance over immigration policies, underscored his willingness to engage in global debates.
However, the Pope did meet with the vice president on 20 April. Here's what the Vice President had to say in to a post on Facebook:
"Today I met with the Holy Father Pope Francis. I am grateful for his invitation to meet, and I pray for his good health. Happy Easter!"
Photo: Vice President JD Vance, Facebook.
Francis also simplified papal funeral rites, opting for a single wooden casket and burial at Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, breaking with centuries of tradition.
Following his death, the Vatican has entered the sede vacante period, with Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, overseeing the Church until a new pope is elected.
A nine-day mourning period, the Novendiale, has begun, and Francis’ body will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing.
The College of Cardinals will convene in a conclave within 15 to 20 days to select his successor, a process expected to reflect the ideological divides Francis’ papacy exposed.
Pope Francis leaves behind a Church more attuned to the modern world yet grappling with its internal divisions.
His legacy as a “pope of the people” will endure, remembered for his warmth, resilience, and unwavering call for mercy and justice.
This report was compiled with the help of AI.
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