Pope Francis, the head of the catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, has died at the age of 88, as confirmed by the Vatican City Church officials. He is the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and a transformative figure in modern Church history.
As per the reports, he passed away at 7:35 a.m. on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. The Vatican confirmed his death with a brief statement, and noted that the Holy Father passed peacefully in his residence at the Vatican. However, no immediate cause of death has been disclosed yet. The Pope had been battling with health challenges that majorly included respiratory issues and limited mobility.
Pope Francis is the first pope from the Society of Jesus. He is the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere, also the first born or raised outside Europe since the 8th century Syrian pope Gregory III.
Mayor Geordin Hill of South Africa has also extended his condolences to the Catholic Community of Cape Town and expressed that, “I convey my heartfelt condolences to the Catholic Community of Cape Town on the sad news of the passing of his Holiness Pope Francis.”
“Over 12-years of his papacy Pope Francis spoke often of the central message od Christianity being one love for another, reminding us of Jesus’ commandment: ‘Love one another as I have loved you’,” he added.
Born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Dec 17, 1936. Pope Francis made history in 2013 by becoming the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope and the first non-European pontiff in over 1200 years. His papacy was marked by an emphasis on mercy, humility and was considered as a social justice, as well as outspoken advocacy for the poor, migrants and the environment.
In his serving period of 12-year papacy, Pope Francis became a global moral voice who urged a ‘revolution of tenderness’ in a world often marked by the conflict and inequality. His encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti received worldwide attention for calling humanity to environmental stewardship and universal fraternity.
As the Church mourns his passing, leaders around the world are already pouring their tributes. Flags at the Vatican are flying at half-mast and preparations are underway for a funeral ceremony as Mass is expected to draw millions of mourners and heads of state.
The College of Cardinals will soon convene to begin the formal process and procedure of selecting a new pope, who will further lead the church.
Pope Francis will always be remembered as a spiritual shepherd and as a pope who brought the Church closer to the people, by walking with the wounded, reforming institutions and preaching hope in the face of a large changing world.