Pope Francis, spiritual leader of more than a billion Catholics worldwide, died this morning at 7:35 a.m., April 21, 2025, following a period of convalescence after a severe respiratory infection. His death, announced live from the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta by Cardinal Kevin Farrell at approximately 9:53 a.m., marks the end of a deeply influential 12-year pontificate.
“Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” said Cardinal Farrell, the camerlengo responsible for Vatican affairs during the papal interregnum. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, had just marked the twelfth anniversary of his election on March 13. His papacy was characterized by an unwavering focus on mercy, care for the marginalized, and a global call for environmental and social justice.
“His whole life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church,” Cardinal Farrell continued. “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love—especially for the poorest and most excluded.”
Present at the chapel during the brief but emotional announcement were Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, a key figure in the Vatican’s diplomatic corps. The chapel, located in the pope’s residence, had long served as his place of prayer and quiet witness.
Born in 1936, Francis became the first pope from Latin America and the first Jesuit pope. His simplicity and openness won him admiration far beyond Catholic circles. Choosing not to live in the Apostolic Palace, he remained in the Casa Santa Marta throughout his papacy — a quiet but striking symbol of his commitment to humility and accessibility.
He will be remembered for his encyclicals Laudato si’, calling for a renewed care for creation, and Fratelli tutti, a plea for fraternity across all human borders. He frequently emphasized that the Church should be “a field hospital after battle,” tending to wounds rather than issuing condemnations.
Though often the subject of criticism — from both conservative and progressive corners—Francis remained steady in his pastoral approach. He consistently called for a Church “that goes forth,” echoing Christ’s own journey with the forgotten and the vulnerable.
“In immense gratitude for his witness as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we entrust the soul of Pope Francis to the infinitely merciful love of the Triune God,” said Cardinal Farrell.
The Vatican is now officially in sede vacante, the period between pontificates. Funeral arrangements and the date for the conclave that will elect Francis’s successor are expected to be announced in the coming days. Until then, bells will toll and prayers will rise in every corner of the world where his voice once reached — calling all people to mercy, encounter, and joy.
