Tributes as Pope Francis Passes Away on Easter Monday at Age 88

Posted by Oluwaseun Adepegba

Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and a transformative figure in modern Church history, is dead. He passed away peacefully on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at 7:35 a.m. in his residence at the Vatican.

The Vatican confirmed his death in a brief statement, noting that the Holy Father “passed peacefully.” While the immediate cause of death has not been disclosed, it is known that Pope Francis had been facing health challenges in recent years, including respiratory issues and limited mobility.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words:

“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

The Pope was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days.

Pope Francis’ clinical situation gradually worsened, and his doctors diagnosed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18.

After 38 days in hospital, the late Pope returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery.

In 1957, in his early 20s, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in his native Argentina to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection.

As he aged, Pope Francis frequently suffered bouts of respiratory illnesses, even cancelling a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation.

In April 2024, the late Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, which will guide the funeral Mass which has yet to be announced.

The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis introduces several new elements, including how the Pope’s mortal remains are to be handled after death.

The ascertainment of death takes place in the chapel, rather than in the room where he died, and his body is immediately placed inside the coffin.

According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, the late Pope Francis had requested that the funeral rites be simplified and focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ.

“The renewed rite,” said Archbishop Ravelli, “seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.”

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, Pope Francis made history in 2013 as the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope, and the first non-European pontiff in over 1,200 years. His papacy was characterized by a focus on mercy, humility, and social justice, alongside strong advocacy for the poor, migrants, and the environment.

During his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis became a global moral voice, urging a “revolution of tenderness” in a world often filled with conflict and inequality. His encyclicals, *Laudato Si’* and *Fratelli Tutti*, received worldwide acclaim for calling humanity to act as responsible stewards of the environment and to embrace the universal fraternity.

As the Church mourns his passing, tributes are pouring in from leaders around the world. Flags at the Vatican are flying at half-mast, and preparations are underway for a funeral mass expected to attract millions of mourners and heads of state.

The College of Cardinals will soon convene to initiate the formal process of selecting a new pope.

Pope Francis will be remembered not only as a spiritual leader but also as a pope who brought the Church closer to the people—walking alongside the wounded, reforming institutions, and preaching hope in the face of a changing world.