Pope Francis dies aged 88
At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father,” Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced in a statement.
“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 faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for 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 God, One and Tribune.″
Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, had struggled with respiratory issues through his adult years, stemming from a life-threatening battle with pneumonia he’d faced as a young man, which led to the partial removal of one of his lungs. In February, he was hospitalised due to bronchitis, which became more complicated due to an infection in his respiratory tract.
The pope, who was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, made his final public appearance on Easter Sunday, a day before his death. He appeared in St Peter’s Square to bless thousands of onlookers. Pope Francis also met briefly with US vice president J.D. Vance.
In his final message, Francis shared, “There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression.” He called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urged for a solution to the ongoing conflict in Yemen, noting that “the light of Easter impels us to break down the barriers that divide us.”
World leaders have begun to express their condolences.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Follow Us On
7 Responses to “Pope Francis dies aged 88”