VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis, the first pontiff from Latin America and a transformative voice for the marginalised, died Monday morning at the age of 88.
His death, announced by the Vatican, marks the end of a 12-year papacy that sought to reshape the Catholic Church in a modern world.
The Argentine pope passed away at the Domus Santa Marta, the Vatican hotel where he had lived throughout his papacy. His death follows complications from a stroke that left him in a coma and eventually led to heart failure, nearly a month after he returned from a lengthy hospitalisation for double pneumonia.
By Tuesday, the Vatican released images of Francis resting in a simple wooden casket. On Wednesday, his body was transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica, where it now lies in an open casket for public viewing. The basilica will remain open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday, giving the faithful around the world a chance to pay their respects.
Public mourning will conclude on Friday at 7 p.m. local time. His funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, with numerous world leaders, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, expected to attend.
Following his wishes, Francis will be buried in a modest underground tomb at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, home to an icon of the Virgin Mary he deeply revered.
The pope made his final public appearance on Easter Sunday, blessing a cheering crowd from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. Though visibly frail and unable to celebrate Mass himself, he managed a brief ride through St. Peter’s Square in his popemobile, drawing emotional applause. That day, he also met briefly with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who later remarked that the pontiff was “obviously very ill.”
News of Francis’ death triggered an outpouring of grief from Argentina to the Philippines and across Rome. Catholics and non-Catholics alike mourned a leader remembered for championing the poor, defending migrants, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, and urging environmental protection. Religious leaders from other faiths praised him for fostering dialogue and understanding.
Francis’ health had been a growing concern. Diagnosed with chronic lung disease after losing part of one lung in his youth, he was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14, 2025. After a 38-day stay—the longest of his pontificate—he returned to the Vatican on March 23, offering hope to many.
With his passing, the Catholic Church now enters the traditional mourning period known as the *novendiali*, nine days of prayer and remembrance. A conclave to elect the next pope will follow, convening cardinals from around the world. They will cast secret ballots in the Sistine Chapel, with black smoke signalling an inconclusive vote and white smoke announcing the election of the next leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.
The seat of St. Peter stands vacant once again, and the world watches as the Church prepares for its next chapter.
