Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, he was the first Jesuit and the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Elected in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Francis served as pope for 12 years.
The final months of his papacy were marked by serious health issues, including double pneumonia and kidney complications. Despite recent signs of recovery, he passed away in the early hours of April 21. In keeping with his wishes, Pope Francis will be buried at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome, breaking with the tradition of burial within St. Peter’s Basilica.
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis was known for his humility and push for reform. He championed the rights of migrants, promoted interfaith dialogue, and introduced progressive changes, including limited blessings for same-sex couples and roles for women in Church leadership. His legacy remains one of compassion, openness, and an effort to modernize the 2,000-year-old Church.
