Pope Francis Dies at the Age of 88

Pope Francis, the Head of the Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88 in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced on Monday.

The news comes just a day after the Pope made a much-anticipated appearance in Saint Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, delivering his traditional Urbi et Orbi (“To the City and the World”) benediction, during which he called for freedom of thought and greater tolerance.

Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis was known for his outspoken advocacy for peace and justice. He stood in solidarity with the people of Gaza, calling for an end to the genocide. In a poignant moment last Christmas in Bethlehem, he was seen beside a display of the infant Jesus laid on a keffiyeh — a gesture that symbolized the values he upheld throughout his time as pope.

While the official cause of death has yet to be confirmed, Pope Francis’s recent health struggles had clearly taken a toll. After being hospitalized on February 14, 2025, with a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia, he spent 38 days at Gemelli Hospital — the longest stay of his 12-year papacy. Though doctors advised a two-month recovery period, Francis resumed light duties after feeling strong enough.