Pope Francis Passes Away
The Vatican has announced the passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88. He began his papacy in March 2013 and became the first pontiff from Latin America. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father....
TroibNews 
The Vatican has announced the passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88.
He began his papacy in March 2013 and became the first pontiff from Latin America.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” stated Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, in a statement on Monday morning.
Farrell went on to say, “Pope Francis taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized.” He added, “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 God, One and Tribune.”
Pope Francis made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday, attending Holy Mass at St. Peter’s Square. Due to health issues, a member of the clergy delivered his traditional Easter message. Following the service, the Pope, using a wheelchair, waved to the cheering crowd from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, saying, “Dear brothers and sisters, happy Easter.”
Earlier that day, he met with US Vice President J. D. Vance, during which he reportedly “lectured” Vance on compassion.
In March, the pontiff had been discharged from the hospital after five weeks of treatment for an infection that resulted in double pneumonia.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, he was ordained as a Catholic priest in the late 1960s and became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, later being named a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001.
Throughout his 12-year papacy, Francis emerged as a critic of capitalism and globalization, advocating for the poor and marginalized. He took a stand against extravagance and privilege within the Vatican, urging cardinals and priests to embody humility.
The pontiff consistently called on the international community to enact reforms to combat climate change and labeled the possession of nuclear weapons as “immoral.”
His efforts to make the Catholic Church more inclusive sparked controversy, as he stated in 2023 that “being homosexual is not a crime.” Earlier this year, he permitted gay men to join the priesthood in Italy and encouraged women to assume more significant decision-making roles within the Church.
Pope Francis also sought to address the grave issue of child sex abuse by Catholic clerics, with varying opinions on the effectiveness of his measures.
He aimed to strengthen ties between the Catholic Church and other religious denominations, visiting the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq, and meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in 2016, marking a historic occasion.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
He began his papacy in March 2013 and became the first pontiff from Latin America.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” stated Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, in a statement on Monday morning.
Farrell went on to say, “Pope Francis taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized.” He added, “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 God, One and Tribune.”
Pope Francis made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday, attending Holy Mass at St. Peter’s Square. Due to health issues, a member of the clergy delivered his traditional Easter message. Following the service, the Pope, using a wheelchair, waved to the cheering crowd from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, saying, “Dear brothers and sisters, happy Easter.”
Earlier that day, he met with US Vice President J. D. Vance, during which he reportedly “lectured” Vance on compassion.
In March, the pontiff had been discharged from the hospital after five weeks of treatment for an infection that resulted in double pneumonia.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, he was ordained as a Catholic priest in the late 1960s and became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, later being named a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001.
Throughout his 12-year papacy, Francis emerged as a critic of capitalism and globalization, advocating for the poor and marginalized. He took a stand against extravagance and privilege within the Vatican, urging cardinals and priests to embody humility.
The pontiff consistently called on the international community to enact reforms to combat climate change and labeled the possession of nuclear weapons as “immoral.”
His efforts to make the Catholic Church more inclusive sparked controversy, as he stated in 2023 that “being homosexual is not a crime.” Earlier this year, he permitted gay men to join the priesthood in Italy and encouraged women to assume more significant decision-making roles within the Church.
Pope Francis also sought to address the grave issue of child sex abuse by Catholic clerics, with varying opinions on the effectiveness of his measures.
He aimed to strengthen ties between the Catholic Church and other religious denominations, visiting the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq, and meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in 2016, marking a historic occasion.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
