On Monday morning, Pope Francis passed away at age 88, according to Vatican camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
Pope Francis had been battling chronic lung disease for years and spent the last 38 days in Rome’s Gemelli hospital due to a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. The news comes just after Vice President JD Vance met with the head of the Catholic Church.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church,” said Farrell, per Vatican News.
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of 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 the One and Triune God.”
The day before Pope Francis’ passing, Vice President Vance met with the pontiff on Easter Sunday at the Casa Santa Marta. Francis gave Vance, a practicing Catholic, three large chocolate Easter eggs for Vance’s three young children. He also gave the VP, a Vatican tie and rosaries.
“I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul,” Vance said early Monday morning in a post on X.
“Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of the ascertainment of death of Pope Francis and placement of his body in the coffin on Monday evening,” Vatican News stated on X.
“The Eucharistic celebration and canonization rite had been scheduled for Sunday, April 27, on the Second Sunday of Easter, also celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday,” the post continued.
The Pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church and the spiritual leader of more than one billion Catholics worldwide. He is also the sovereign of Vatican City and has supreme authority over matters of doctrine, discipline, and governance within the Church.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was elected in 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation. He was the first pope from Latin America, the first Jesuit to hold the office, and the first non-European Pope in more than a millennium.
Throughout his papacy, Francis emphasized humility and compassion for people experiencing poverty. He was known for speaking out on climate change, economic inequality, and immigration, but he also faced criticism from conservatives who believed he strayed too far from tradition.
The death of a pope triggers a period known as sede vacante, during which the College of Cardinals governs the Church and prepares for a new election. A conclave is called, and cardinals under age 80 gather in the Sistine Chapel to vote in secret until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority.