Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church who was known for his humility and commitment to the poor, died on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in a statement released by the Vatican. His death came just a day after he appeared in a wheelchair at St. Peter’s Square to give an Easter blessing to thousands of worshippers.
The pontiff had battled health issues throughout his life, having part of one lung removed at age 21. Most recently, he spent five weeks in hospital being treated for an infection that led to double pneumonia, during which doctors revealed there were “two very critical episodes” where his “life was in danger.”
Francis’ body will be displayed in an open coffin in St. Peter’s Basilica for the faithful to pay their respects. In accordance with his wishes, he is expected to be buried at the ancient Basilica of St. Mary Major, which lies outside the Vatican walls, breaking with the tradition of pontiffs being buried within the Vatican.
World Leaders React
Tributes poured in from around the world as news of the Pope’s death spread. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised him as a “great man” who brought “many people closer to the church,” adding that she had the privilege of enjoying his “friendship, advice and teachings.”
King Charles, who met privately with the Pope earlier this month during his state visit to Italy, said in a statement that he was “deeply saddened” by the news. “His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith,” the King stated.
U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on social media: “Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!” Vice President JD Vance, who briefly met the Pope on Easter Sunday, said his “heart goes out to Christians,” adding, “I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed being “deeply pained” by the Pope’s passing. “Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world,” Modi said, recalling his meetings with the pontiff and “his affection for the people of India.”
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi remembered Francis as “a global voice of compassion, justice, and peace” who “stood by the downtrodden and the marginalised.”
The Dalai Lama offered Buddhist prayers, writing that “Pope Francis dedicated himself to the service of others... consistently revealing by his own actions how to live a simple, but meaningful life.”
Indian Church Leaders Respond
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) expressed “deep sorrow and profound grief” at the Pope’s passing, noting that “the Church in India joins millions of faithful across the world in mourning the loss of a shepherd who led the global Catholic Church with extraordinary courage, compassion, and humility.”
The CBCI highlighted his commitment to the poor and marginalized, his environmental advocacy through the encyclical Laudato si’, and his interfaith bridge-building efforts. They announced nine days of mourning and prayer, requesting that “all Catholic institutions across the country remain closed on the day of the funeral as a mark of respect and solidarity.”
The All India Catholic Union joined “the universal church in mourning Pope Francis,” with National president Elia Vaz and office bearers stating: “We will miss a lodestar who redefined for us the love of Jesus Christ for the world, expressing it in his focus for victims of wars and climate change, of gender issues and religious, racial and ethnic hate. Above all, we have lost a friend of the laity, a friend of the poor.”
The statement highlighted Francis’ reforms of Vatican finances and bureaucracy, his outreach to Islam and other religions, and his opposition to wars in Gaza and Ukraine. “To the common catholic laity, Pope Francis was a member of the family who they could trust,” the statement added, noting his inclusion of the faithful in Church processes and his appointment of women to important positions.
The Evangelical Fellowship of India expressed “profound condolences upon the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.” In the statement, General Secretary Rev. Vijayesh Lal honoured Pope Francis as one who “demonstrated an abiding commitment to the poor and marginalized, challenging global leaders to address economic inequality, climate change, and the plight of migrants with both courage and compassion.”
The EFI statement recognized how Francis “brought renewal to the papacy through his authenticity and accessibility” and how “his emphasis on faith expressed through practical action resonated with people across the world, across diverse religious traditions and with those who hold no religious beliefs.” It particularly acknowledged his “steadfast commitment to building bridges of understanding between different Christian traditions” and how “his sincere efforts to foster dialogue and mutual respect created pathways for Christians to witness together in a fractured world while faithfully maintaining our distinctive theological convictions.”
A Life of Service
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, to Italian immigrants who had fled fascism, Francis worked as a bouncer, janitor, and trained as a chemist before being ordained a Jesuit priest in 1969.
He rose through the church hierarchy, becoming head of the archdiocese in Argentina in 1998, and in 2001, Pope John Paul II named him to the Sacred College of Cardinals. In 2013, he succeeded retired Pope Benedict XVI as the 266th pontiff, becoming the first Jesuit and non-European to hold the church’s highest office in more than 1,000 years.
His papacy began with a simple “Buonasera” (“Good evening”) greeting, signalling a humbler approach to the papacy. He chose to live in the Vatican guest house rather than the ornate papal apartments, travelled in compact cars instead of luxury vehicles, and wore his old orthotic shoes rather than the traditional red papal loafers.
A Pontificate of Firsts and Reforms
Francis’ 12-year pontificate was marked by numerous reforms and historic firsts. He took on the church’s sprawling clerical child sexual abuse crisis by issuing extensive revisions to the church’s laws and insisting bishops act against abusive clergy.
The Pope championed economic justice and environmental protection, frequently advocating for action on climate change. His first trip as pontiff was to the Italian island of Lampedusa, the epicentre of Europe’s migration crisis, underscoring his commitment to the plight of refugees.
He expanded roles for women in the church, adding them to important decision-making positions and allowing them to vote alongside bishops in Vatican meetings, though he maintained the church’s traditional positions on many doctrinal matters.
Francis attempted to reform Vatican finances and bureaucracy, trying to bring transparency and accountability to institutions marred by scandal. He approved a historic agreement with China over bishop nominations and charted new relations with the Muslim world through visits to the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq.
India and Pope Francis
Journalist John Dayal noted the absence of a papal visit to India: “It is a pity that Pope Francis never came to India, a country for which he often expressed his admiration and love. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his two visits to the Vatican, both highly publicised in the national media, hugged the Catholic head, but his government never extended the formal invitation which would have allowed for a Papal visit. The pope came to Sri Lanka and to other countries in South and Southeast Asia, but never to India.”
During his papacy, Francis did make an important gesture toward Indian Catholics when he appointed Archbishop Anthony Poola as India’s first Dalit cardinal in 2022, described as “a landmark moment for caste representation in the Catholic Church.”
A Global Legacy
With over 40 international trips, Francis visited conflict zones, refugee camps, and impoverished nations. His 2023 visit to Mongolia reinforced his commitment to small Catholic communities around the world.
Francis was remarkably open about his role and personal struggles, often using candid language to describe his vision for the Church and his own limitations. His papacy was marked by a commitment to reform, social justice, and pastoral outreach.
Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, summarized Francis’s character: “I remember, in the brief times spent with him, how this holy man of God was also very human. He was witty, lively, good to be with, and the warmth of his personality and interest in others shone out from him.”
As bells tolled in churches from Argentina to the Philippines and across Rome, and as crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square to mourn, the world reflected on the legacy of a pontiff who sought to reshape the Catholic Church into what he called “a field hospital after battle” - focused on healing wounds and warming hearts.
His successor will be chosen during a conclave, a gathering of cardinals who are charged with electing a new pope in strict seclusion at the Vatican. The governing of the Catholic Church will now be handled by the College of Cardinals until a new Pope is chosen.
