Pope Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor, died Monday. He was 88.The Vatican said Francis died of a cerebral stroke that put him into a coma and led to irreversible heart failure.“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said in the announcement. Bells tolled in church towers across Rome after the announcement, which was read out by Farrell from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis lived.Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.But he emerged on Easter Sunday — a day before his death — to bless thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square and treat them to a surprise popemobile romp through the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause.Francis performed the blessing from the same loggia where he was introduced to the world on March 13, 2013 as the 266th pope.From his first greeting that night — a remarkably normal “Buonasera” (“Good evening”) — to his embrace of refugees and the downtrodden, Francis signaled a very different tone for the papacy, stressing humility over hubris for a Catholic Church beset by scandal and accusations of indifference. Video above: White House reacts to death of Pope FrancisAt the Vatican on Monday, the mood was a mix of somber quiet among people who knew and worked for Francis, and the typical buzz of tourists visiting St. Peter’s Square on the day after Easter. While many initially didn’t know the news, some sensed something happening given the swarms of television crews.The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, wiped tears from his eyes as he met with journalists in the press room.Francis’ death sets off a weekslong process of allowing the faithful to pay their final respects, first for Vatican officials in the Santa Marta chapel and then in St. Peter’s for the general public, followed by a funeral and a conclave to elect a new pope.As the sun was setting on Monday evening, the Vatican held a Rosary prayer in St. Peter’s Square in its first public commemoration. The Vatican later said Francis has decreed in his will that he will be buried in St. Mary Major Basilica in a simple underground tomb with only “Franciscus” written on it. Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires on Dec. 17, 1936. He was the first head of the Catholic Church who came from the Jesuit Order. He was also the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere.Pope Francis was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 after recovering from pneumonia and cysts. By 1973, he was serving as the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina and was named archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. He was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He chose his name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, a saint known for living a life of Christian poverty who is associated with the patronage of animals and the environment. Francis’ time in the papacy has been marked by his less formal approach to the role than his predecessors. Francis is noted for his humility, emphasis on God’s mercy, international visibility, concern for the poor, and his commitment to interreligious dialogue.In his time in the papacy, Francis has been an outspoken critic of capitalism and the death penalty. He has maintained that the Catholic Church should be more sympathetic toward the LGBT community. He has also allowed for blessings over LGBT couples, as same-sex marriage is not permitted in Catholic churches.Francis has been at the center of the church’s response to sexual abuse allegations. Shortly after entering the papacy, he controversially decided a previously defrocked priest should be able to remain a priest, but be removed from service. Francis later acknowledged that he mishandled that case and said the church had arrived late to responding to allegations. In 2019, Francis defrocked Theodore McCarrick, a former archbishop of Washington who had been accused of sexual misconduct in the 1980s. Though Francis admitted missteps, the Vatican continues to experience criticism over its handling of various cases.Francis is the first pope to publish a memoir, which was released in January 2025.In late 2024, Francis modified the papal funeral rites, deciding to be buried in a simple wooden box. He will be the first pope in more than 100 years to be buried outside of the Vatican, opting instead to be buried in Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore basilica.The Associated Press contributed to this report
Pope Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor, died Monday. He was 88.
The Vatican said Francis died of a cerebral stroke that put him into a coma and led to irreversible heart failure.
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“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said in the announcement.
Bells tolled in church towers across Rome after the announcement, which was read out by Farrell from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis lived.
Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.
But he emerged on Easter Sunday — a day before his death — to bless thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square and treat them to a surprise popemobile romp through the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause.
Francis performed the blessing from the same loggia where he was introduced to the world on March 13, 2013 as the 266th pope.
From his first greeting that night — a remarkably normal “Buonasera” (“Good evening”) — to his embrace of refugees and the downtrodden, Francis signaled a very different tone for the papacy, stressing humility over hubris for a Catholic Church beset by scandal and accusations of indifference.
Video above: White House reacts to death of Pope Francis
At the Vatican on Monday, the mood was a mix of somber quiet among people who knew and worked for Francis, and the typical buzz of tourists visiting St. Peter’s Square on the day after Easter. While many initially didn’t know the news, some sensed something happening given the swarms of television crews.
The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, wiped tears from his eyes as he met with journalists in the press room.
Francis’ death sets off a weekslong process of allowing the faithful to pay their final respects, first for Vatican officials in the Santa Marta chapel and then in St. Peter’s for the general public, followed by a funeral and a conclave to elect a new pope.
As the sun was setting on Monday evening, the Vatican held a Rosary prayer in St. Peter’s Square in its first public commemoration. The Vatican later said Francis has decreed in his will that he will be buried in St. Mary Major Basilica in a simple underground tomb with only “Franciscus” written on it.
Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires on Dec. 17, 1936. He was the first head of the Catholic Church who came from the Jesuit Order. He was also the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere.
Pope Francis was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 after recovering from pneumonia and cysts. By 1973, he was serving as the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina and was named archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. He was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.
He chose his name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, a saint known for living a life of Christian poverty who is associated with the patronage of animals and the environment. Francis’ time in the papacy has been marked by his less formal approach to the role than his predecessors. Francis is noted for his humility, emphasis on God’s mercy, international visibility, concern for the poor, and his commitment to interreligious dialogue.
In his time in the papacy, Francis has been an outspoken critic of capitalism and the death penalty. He has maintained that the Catholic Church should be more sympathetic toward the LGBT community. He has also allowed for blessings over LGBT couples, as same-sex marriage is not permitted in Catholic churches.
Francis has been at the center of the church’s response to sexual abuse allegations. Shortly after entering the papacy, he controversially decided a previously defrocked priest should be able to remain a priest, but be removed from service. Francis later acknowledged that he mishandled that case and said the church had arrived late to responding to allegations. In 2019, Francis defrocked Theodore McCarrick, a former archbishop of Washington who had been accused of sexual misconduct in the 1980s. Though Francis admitted missteps, the Vatican continues to experience criticism over its handling of various cases.
Francis is the first pope to publish a memoir, which was released in January 2025.
In late 2024, Francis modified the papal funeral rites, deciding to be buried in a simple wooden box. He will be the first pope in more than 100 years to be buried outside of the Vatican, opting instead to be buried in Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore basilica.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
