Pope Francis passed away on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed through an official statement shared via its Telegram channel. His death occurred at 7:35 a.m. (05:35 GMT), just one day after his final public appearance during the Easter Mass at St. Peter’s Square.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell declared while reading the Vatican’s official statement. “The Bishop of Rome has returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to serving the Lord and His Church.”
The pontiff had been recently discharged from hospital following a 38-day stay due to a severe case of pneumonia. Throughout the past year, he had endured multiple critical health episodes. Despite his fragile condition, on Sunday he appeared at the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to deliver the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing, wishing the faithful a “happy Easter Sunday” and calling for “freedom of thought and tolerance” in his final address to the world.
Thousands had gathered to catch a glimpse of him, visibly moved by the reappearance of a spiritual leader weakened by illness but unwavering in his message.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, will be remembered as one of the most influential leaders of the 21st century. The eldest of five siblings and the son of Italian immigrants, his father was a railway worker and his mother a homemaker. His grandmother Rosa played a pivotal role in his religious calling.
He entered the Jesuit seminary at 21 and was ordained a priest in 1969. Bergoglio later served as Provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina and as rector of the Colegio Máximo in San Miguel. In 1992, after a period of isolation in Córdoba, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires by Pope John Paul II. He would become archbishop in 1998, following the death of Cardinal Antonio Quarracino.
His election as Pope in 2013, after the resignation of Benedict XVI, marked the beginning of a reformist papacy. Within months, Francis launched sweeping changes in the Vatican: promoting financial transparency, creating a council of cardinals to democratize Church governance, and denouncing lobbying efforts within the Holy See.
He appointed Australian Cardinal George Pell to oversee Vatican finances. Pell’s later accusation of abuse — ultimately dismissed — was widely seen as an attack from those opposing reform efforts.
Throughout his papacy, Francis maintained a harmonious relationship with Benedict XVI and consistently resisted internal manipulation and misinformation. His leadership, beyond symbolic gestures, was rooted in tangible efforts to make the Church more inclusive and modern.
His final messages, delivered in an increasingly polarized global context, urged for dialogue, discouraged futile confrontations, and called for mercy to be shown through deeds rather than words. He stood firm in defending the marginalized, and his voice resonated from the favelas of Rio to international forums.
In Argentina, his figure sparked mixed interpretations. Many regret that he never visited his homeland as Pope. Some say he deliberately avoided the trip to prevent politicization and to maintain humility. Nevertheless, his spiritual influence remains, challenging Argentina’s leadership to reflect deeply.
Francis leaves behind many disciples, among them Father José María “Pepe” Di Paola, a prominent figure in Argentina’s poorest neighborhoods. On one occasion, the Pope said of him: “He is a priest who can move hearts simply because he is authentic.”
Now, following his passing, it is up to Argentinians to “spiritually bring” their Pope home. Beyond the physical trip that never happened, the legacy of Jorge Bergoglio continues to challenge both his country and the world — to live humbly, to practice mercy, and to build a more just and inclusive Church and society.
