On Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at 7:35 a.m. CEST, the world paused as Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced the passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88 in his modest suite at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. The first Latin American pontiff, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, succumbed to a stroke followed by irreversible cardiovascular collapse, ending a 12-year papacy marked by humility, reform, and a relentless call for mercy. His death, just a day after a frail but spirited appearance in St. Peter’s Square, has sparked an outpouring of grief, reflection, and tribute across the globe. From Rome to Manila, leaders and faithful alike mourn a pope who reshaped the Catholic Church and touched hearts far beyond its 1.4 billion followers.
The Final Days: Frailty and Faith
Pope Francis’ health had been precarious for months. In February 2025, he was admitted to Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital with bronchitis, which worsened into bilateral pneumonia—a life-threatening condition exacerbated by his chronic lung issues, stemming from a partial lung removal in his 20s. After 38 days in hospital, he returned to Casa Santa Marta on March 23, under strict orders to rest for two months. Despite gradual improvements—normal blood work, better lung function, and reduced reliance on oxygen—his doctors noted he had narrowly escaped death.
Easter Sunday, April 20, offered a glimmer of hope. Too weak to preside over Mass, Pope Francis delegated the service to Cardinal Angelo Comastri but appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to deliver the Urbi et Orbi blessing, his raspy voice barely audible as Archbishop Diego Ravelli read his message decrying global conflicts. He delighted crowds with a popemobile tour, waving to thousands chanting “Viva il Papa!” and met briefly with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, gifting him chocolate Easter eggs for his children. Yet, less than 24 hours later, a stroke struck, plunging him into a coma and triggering heart failure.
At 8:00 p.m. on Easter Monday, in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta—his chosen home over the opulent Apostolic Palace—Cardinal Farrell led the rite of death certification. The declaration was read, seals were placed on Francis’ apartments, and his body was prepared for transfer to St. Peter’s Basilica on April 23 for public veneration. In his will, dated June 29, 2022, Francis requested a simple burial at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, beside the Salus Populi Romani icon he cherished, with only “Franciscus” inscribed on his tomb.
A Papacy of Radical Simplicity
Elected in 2013 as the first Jesuit and non-European pope in over a millennium, Francis redefined the papacy. He shunned the Apostolic Palace for a two-room suite in Casa Santa Marta, a guesthouse built in 1996 for conclaves, where he dined with clergy and celebrated daily Mass. His papacy championed the marginalized—migrants, the poor, the LGBTQ+ community—while denouncing capitalism, climate change, and war. His openness, like supporting same-sex civil unions, modernized the Church but irked traditionalists.
Pope Francis’ final Urbi et Orbi message on Easter Sunday encapsulated his legacy: “How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants!” His insistence on mercy, noted by Vatican News’ Andrea Tornielli, became his pontificate’s heartbeat. Even in frailty, he met luminaries like Martin Scorsese and Whoopi Goldberg, and his engagement with culture—like screening Io Capitano—kept the papacy relevant.
Global Reactions: Grief, Gratitude, and Debate
The world’s response to Pope Francis’ death has been a tapestry of sorrow, admiration, and introspection. In Rome, St. Peter’s Square became a sea of mourners by Monday evening, with rosaries and prayers echoing through the night. At St. John Lateran, Rome’s cathedral, locals like Emanuela Tinari wept, saying, “He brought so many closer to the Church.” Pilgrims lit candles at Buenos Aires’ Metropolitan Cathedral, while in the Philippines—where 80% of 110 million are Catholic—House Speaker Martin Romualdez mourned “our beloved Lolo Kiko,” a nickname blending “Francis” and “grandpa.”
Political leaders weighed in swiftly. U.S. President Donald Trump, despite past clashes over immigration, called Francis “a good man” who “loved the world.” Argentina’s President Javier Milei, once a critic, praised Francis’ “goodness and wisdom.” Brazil’s President Lula lauded his fight against injustice, while Timor-Leste’s Jose Ramos-Horta declared a week of mourning, hailing Francis’ peace advocacy. Japan’s Ishiba Shigeru recalled his 2019 visit to Hiroshima, where Francis condemned nuclear weapons.
Faith communities beyond Catholicism also paid homage. In Berlin, an Easter service at St. John the Baptist Basilica near the Vatican embassy honored Francis’ ecumenical outreach. In Timor-Leste, a Catholic-majority nation, President Ramos-Horta said, “All religions feel the loss,” reflecting Francis’ interfaith efforts.
Yet, not all reactions were uncritical. Some X users and commentators questioned whether Francis’ reforms—on LGBTQ+ inclusion or clergy abuse—went far enough. CNN noted the Church’s child sex abuse scandals, which “overshadowed” recent papacies, suggesting Francis’ legacy is mixed. Others, like Reuters, called his reign “turbulent,” citing conservative backlash against his leftward shift.
The Path Forward: Mourning and Succession
The Vatican has entered a period of transition. A 14-day mourning period, including nine days of Novendiales, began on April 21. Francis’ funeral, set for April 25–27, will likely draw millions to St. Peter’s Basilica, with his body lying in state from April 23. A conclave to elect his successor will convene 15–20 days later in the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals under 80 will vote until a two-thirds majority emerges. White smoke and the cry “Habemus Papam!” will signal a new pope.
Francis’ choice of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial breaks tradition, reflecting his devotion to simplicity. The postponement of Carlo Acutis’ sainthood ceremony, planned for April 27, underscores the gravity of this moment.
A Legacy That Endures
Pope Francis’ death on Easter Monday, in the humble Casa Santa Marta, feels poetic—a final act of a pontiff who lived among his priests, not above them. His passing, after a life dedicated to the Gospel’s “poorest and most marginalized,” has united the world in grief and gratitude. From St. Peter’s Square to the Philippines, his message of mercy resonates.
Globally, reactions reveal a pope who was both a spiritual giant and a lightning rod. His reforms modernized the Church but sparked debate, ensuring his legacy will be studied for generations. As the Vatican prepares for a new chapter, Francis’ call to “make all things new” lingers, a challenge to his successor and the world. For now, as mourners pray and cardinals gather, the memory of “Lolo Kiko” shines bright—a beacon of compassion in a divided age.
