The Pope has died at the age of 88 – a day after making a highly anticipated appearance in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday.
Pope Francis emerged yesterday to wish a crowd of tens of thousands a “Happy Easter” from the open papal vehicle. “Long live the Pope! Bravo,” the crowd chanted as Francis passed through the square and then along the main boulevard that leads there.
He paused occasionally to bless the babies brought to him. “Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter,” Francis said. Francis did not celebrate Easter Mass in the square, delegating it to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the former high priest of St. Peter’s Basilica. But after the Mass ended, Francis appeared on the balcony of the loggia above the basilica’s entrance for more than 20 minutes and gave the apostolic blessing in Latin.
The crowd, which the Vatican said numbered more than 35,000, erupted in applause as a military band began playing the Holy See anthem. In total, Francis stood outside on a sunny spring day for about 50 minutes, with temperatures of 21°C.
US Vice President JD Vance also met briefly with Pope Francis on Sunday to exchange Easter greetings. Francis received Vance in one of the reception rooms of the Vatican hotel where he lives.
He presented the Catholic vice president with three large chocolate eggs for his three young children who were not present, as well as a Vatican tie.
“I know you haven’t been feeling well lately, but it’s good to see you in better health,” Vance told the Pope. “Thank you for hosting me.” Vance’s escort entered the Vatican through a side gate as Easter Mass was being celebrated in St. Peter’s Square.
The Vatican said they met for a few minutes at the Domus Santa Marta to exchange Easter greetings.
Vance’s office said the vice president expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis for the invitation to meet him on Easter Sunday and for the hospitality the Vatican has offered his family. “I pray for you every day,” Vance told the Pope as he left. “God bless you.”
In total, Vance’s escort took 17 minutes to stay on Vatican territory. The tragic death of Pope Francis has plunged 1.4 billion Catholics around the world into mourning.
“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in a statement released by the Vatican on its Telegram channel.
“This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of God and his Church.”
Francis had been close to death twice earlier this year while suffering from pneumonia. He spent 38 days in hospital before being discharged on March 23. His condition appeared to worsen as doctors were forced to change his treatment for the respiratory infection due to a “complex clinical situation.”
And then it was confirmed that he was suffering from double pneumonia after an X-ray. The 88-year-old underwent blood transfusions and was described as in “critical” condition. The Vatican said at the time that “the prognosis is reserved.” Two people close to the pope said Francis had told them that “he might not make it this time” after being diagnosed with a serious lung condition, according to a report by Politico.
TRIBUTES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Emotional tributes are pouring in from around the world for the Holy Father. King Charles said he was “deeply saddened” to hear of Pope Francis’ death. Sir Keir Starmer also paid tribute to the Pope, saying: “Deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Holiness, Pope Francis.
“His tireless efforts to promote a more just world for all will leave a lasting legacy.”
“On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom, I express my most sincere condolences to the entire Catholic Church.”
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, paid tribute to Pope Francis, saying: “A voice that proclaimed the inherent dignity of every human being, especially those who are poor or excluded, has now been silenced.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said that throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis was always at the side of the most fragile and vulnerable, and did so with great humility.
“In this time of war and brutality, he had empathy for the other, for the weakest,” Macron told reporters.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said: “Pope Francis was in every respect a man of the people. The global Catholic community bids farewell to a leader who recognized the most pressing issues of our time and brought them to the forefront.”
Meanwhile, tyrant Vladimir Putin said: “I had the privilege of communicating with this extraordinary man on many occasions and I will always hold him in the fondest memories.”
WAR WITH HEALTH
Francis, who has led the Catholic Church since 2013, had a history of lung problems, having had part of a lung removed due to pleurisy when he was young.
He has been hospitalized three times since becoming Pope in 2013. In 2023, he spent three days at the Gemelli hospital, which has a special ward for treating popes, for an acute case of pneumonia.
The Pope was rushed to the hospital on March 29, 2023, after feeling severe chest pain and having difficulty breathing.
He also spent nine days in the hospital, just a few months later, for an abdominal procedure.
During that operation, doctors removed tissue left over from previous surgeries and repaired an abdominal hernia. The pope also underwent surgery in 2021 to remove part of his colon and spent 10 days at the Gemelli hospital.
‘REFORMER’ POPE
Pope Francis made history when he became the first leader of the Catholic Church from the Americas. The 76-year-old Archbishop of Buenos Aires, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, took the new name after being elected on March 13, 2013, to succeed Pope Benedict XVI.
He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, to Italian immigrant parents. The Argentine had worked as a night watchman (bodyguard/bouncer) before dedicating himself to the priesthood after recovering from pneumonia in 1958.
Francis was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969, and trained for a year in Spain before returning to Argentina. Francis took office as Pope in 2014 and was seen as a bold modernizer, reformer, and progressive.
He had supported the decriminalization of homosexuality, warned of the dangers to democracy and championed the cause of refugees.
When he became Pope, he rejected the grand papal apartment and chose to live in a modest two-room residence.
GAME OF THRONES
Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday morning, attention has now turned to the question of who will succeed him.
His successor will be chosen by a Conclave in an ancient and secret process that has remained largely unchanged for hundreds of years.
The role of leader of the Catholic Church is assumed by an elected senior cardinal, usually until his death, which is announced through ancient smoke signals.
Initially, the Pope’s death must be confirmed by a doctor, but the official announcement is made by the camerlegno, the Pope’s chief of staff.
He calls out the Pope’s birth name three times and usually taps his head lightly with a silver hammer.
If there is no response to the calls and actions, death is officially declared and senior church officials, especially the Cardinal Vicar of the Diocese of Rome, are notified.
The public will learn of the Pope’s death through the black smoke known as fumata nera, which rises from the Sistine Chapel chimney.
The Pope’s ring, known as the Fisherman’s Ring, also burns after it is removed and crushed by the chamberlain, who will also lock the Pope’s apartment, lock his desk and cut his telephone lines./
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