Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff who transformed the Catholic Church with his focus on humility, social justice, and outreach to the marginalized, died Monday at age 88, the Vatican announced.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, made the announcement from the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta at 9:45 a.m., saying, “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
He praised the late pope’s lifelong dedication to the service of the Church and his teaching to live the Gospel with “fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized”.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 17, 1936, Francis made history in 2013 as the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope, and the first non-European pontiff in over a millennium.
He led the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics with a message of mercy, simplicity, and reform, often challenging traditional Church positions and advocating for immigrants, the poor, and LGBTQ rights.
Francis had faced ongoing health challenges in recent years, including lung surgery in his youth, bouts of bronchitis, pneumonia, and diverticulitis.
He was hospitalized for 38 days starting Feb. 14, 2025, at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic with double pneumonia and bronchitis, before returning to recover at the Vatican residence where he died. Despite his frailty, he made a surprise public appearance in St. Peter’s Square just weeks ago, uplifting the faithful.
In April 2024, Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the papal funeral rites, emphasizing simplicity and the Church’s faith in the Resurrection.
His body will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica before burial at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, in accordance with his wishes.
His death comes amid preparations for the conclave that will elect his successor, marking the end of a papacy that reshaped the Catholic Church’s global image and mission.
Francis is remembered as a reformer who prioritized pastoral care over pomp, famously living in a guesthouse rather than the papal apartments and rejecting elaborate clerical attire.
The Vatican said it will provide further details on funeral arrangements and the transition process in the coming days.