Pope Francis died at 7:35 am, Rome’s time, this Monday (21), at the Vatican, in Rome. The announcement of the death was made by the Camer Farrell of Casa Santa Marta.
“At 7:35 am this morning, the bishop of Rome, Francisco, returned to the Father’s house. All his life was devoted to the service of the Lord and the Church.”
Cardinal Farrell also said that Francis even appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the Easter message on Sunday morning (20).
“The pontiff appeared on the balcony of the São Pedro Basilica for the Easter Message Urbi et Orbi, leaving your last message to the church and the world. ”
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we recommend the soul of the Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the Triune God,” added the cardinal.
>> Papa Francisco leaves the hospital after almost 40 days hospitalized
First Pope of the Americas
Francisco assumed the papacy in 2013, but over the last few years he began to present health problems, from flu and colds to injuries caused by falls in his own apartment in the Vatican.
With increasingly fragile health, he even used wheelchair and canes to get around events that required greater physical exertion, as well as limiting his lines due to various respiratory infections.
In February, it was hospitalized to perform examinations and treat a bronchitis, inflammation of the bronchi generally caused by viruses such as influenza or respiratory sincial virus.
Despite the aggravation of health over the years, the Pope had been maintaining much of his daily schedule of commitments, including meeting meetings in his own residence.
Biography
Francisco, name chosen by him for his pontificate, was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Argentine from Buenos Aires, was the first pope of the Americas. Son of Italian immigrants, he was the oldest of five brothers: two men and three women.
Still young, he even graduated from chemistry, but shortly after, he chose the path of the priesthood. He graduated in philosophy, was a professor of literature and psychology, and later also graduated in theology.
He was ordained a priest in December 1969, about to turn 33. As a Jesuit priest, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires and, later, in 2001, as a cardinal, by the then Pope John Paul II.
As an archbishop of Buenos Aires, a diocese with more than 3 million people, prepared a missionary project centered on communion and evangelization and focusing on assisting the poor and the sick.
Francisco was successor to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who, in February 2013, at the age of 78, resigned to the pontificate due to health problems. Francisco even chaired the funeral of Bento XVI in January 2023 with a homily in which he compared him to Jesus.
In mid -2024, about the possibility of also renouncing, Francisco referred to the theme as “distant hypothesis”, as he still kept health enough to continue with his papacy. “I don’t have serious enough reason to make me think of giving up.”
Ceasefire appeal
Throughout his papacy, Francisco has launched several appeals to the international community for conflict ceasefire in Europe and the Middle East-including the war between Russia and Ukraine and, more recently, Hamas attacks on the Gaza Strip.
“All nations have the right to exist in peace and security and their territories should not be attacked or invaded. Sovereignty must be respected and guaranteed by dialogue and peace, not hatred and war.”
Woman in Key Church Cabinet
In January 2025, Francisco appointed a woman to head a major Vatican Office by choosing the Brambilla nun to direct the department responsible for all orders of the Catholic Church.
With the appointment, for the first time, a woman is responsible for a dicker or congregation of the Curia of Santa Fe, central organ of government of the Catholic Church. Simona replaces the renovated Brazilian cardinal João Braz de Aviz.
Miracle in the Amazon
In October 2024, during Mass in St. Peter’s Square, Francisco proclaimed the canonization of Italian priest José Allamano, founder of the Consolata Missionaries Congregation, for a miracle that would have occurred in the Brazilian Amazon.
According to the Comfort America Organization, the miracle occurred in 1996 in Roraima, when an indigenous Yanomami was attacked by an jaguar and presented a serious head injury. A group of missionaries reportedly invoked José Allamano asking for the boy’s recovery, which was held.
Climate change
In August 2024, Francisco made one of his last alerts for the preservation of the environment and demanding a global action against climate change. “If we measure the temperature of the planet, it will tell us that the earth has a fever. It is sick.”
“We need to commit to the protection of nature, changing our personal and community habits,” he said. “Those who suffer most from the consequences of these disasters are the poor, those who are forced to leave their homes because of floods, hot waves,” he added.
Blessing for same -sex couples
In December 2023, the Vatican announced, in a historic decision approved by Pope Francis, that priests can manage blessings to same -sex couples, as long as they are not part of the rituals or regular liturgies of the Catholic Church.
Document of the Vatican Doctrinal Office points out that such blessing does not legitimize irregular situations nor should it be confused with the sacrament of marriage, but figures as a sign that God welcomes everyone.
The text mentions that priests “should not avoid or prohibit the proximity of the church with people in all situations where they can seek God’s help through a simple blessing.”
*With information from Vatican News
*Text updated at 7:15 am to increase information
