Tributes begin for Pope Francis after Vatican confirms his death, aged 88
Tributes are being paid to Pope Francis after the confirmation of his death by the Vatican. He was aged 88.
Pope Francis died Monday morning, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,″ Farrell said in the announcement. “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.
“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 Triune.″
Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on 14 February for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalisation of his 12-year papacy.
Pope Francis marked Easter Sunday by blessing thousands of people who had gathered for mass in St Peter’s Square and then embarking on a surprise popemobile tour around the piazza on Sunday.
The 88-year-old pontiff did not celebrate mass in the square, delegating the service instead to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St Peter’s Basilica.
Francis was diagnosed with bronchitis in early February, but had continued to hold daily audiences in his Vatican hotel suite, and even presided at an outdoor Mass on Sunday 9 February.
But he had handed over his speeches for an aide to read aloud, saying he was having trouble breathing.
Francis, who had part of one lung removed at age 21, had long battled health problems, especially bouts of acute bronchitis in winter and had used a wheelchair, walker or cane when moving around his apartment.
The Pope was especially prone to lung infections due to developing pleurisy – an inflammation of the thin outer covering of the lung – as an adult.
Key events
The Archbishop of York has paid tribute to Pope Francis as “holy man of God” who was “also very human”, PA News reports.
In a statement on X, Stephen Cottrell said:
Francis’s whole life and ministry was centred on Jesus who comes among us not to be served, but to serve.
We saw that compellingly in Francis’s service of the poor his love of neighbour, especially the displaced, migrant; the asylum seeker, his deep compassion for the well-being of the earth and his desire to lead and build the church in new ways.
Acknowledging the pontiff’s efforts in working alongside the Church of England despite “division” with the Catholic Church, Mr Cottrell recalled Pope Francis’ historic trip to South Sudan in 2023 alongside former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Moderator of the Church of Scotland Reverend Dr Iain Greenshields.
“Pope Francis was acutely aware of the divisions between our churches and how they stand in the way of seeing Jesus Christ more fully,” said Mr Cottrell.
He added:
I remember, in the brief times spent with him, how this holy man of God, was also very human.
He was witty, lively, good to be with, and the warmth of his personality and interest in others shone out from him.
Pope Francis adopted a markedly less formal tone than previous popes and became known for his ability to connect with members of the public, as well as for his humility, having shunned some of the more regal trappings of high office. Here is a selection of photographs of the pontiff since 2013 – when Time magazine selected him as its person of the year after the Argentine became the first Latin American person elected to head the Roman Catholic Church:
US Vice President JD Vance has posted a tribute on X:
I just leaned [sic] 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.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis had always sided with the most vulnerable and the most fragile, and that he did this with a lot of humility.
“In this time of war and brutality, he had a sense for the other, for the most fragile,” Macron told reporters.
He thanked the Pope for his various visits to France, including his trip to Corsica in December.
Macron expressed his condolences “to Catholics across the world”, saying “great pain” would be felt in France and internationally.
Pope Francis was a man of deep faith, peace and compassion who fostered ties with the Jewish world, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog said.
In a statement on X, he described Pope Francis as:
A man of deep faith and boundless compassion, he dedicated his life to uplifting the poor and calling for peace in a troubled world.
I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages (in Gaza) will soon be answered.
‘A role model for Catholics and non-Catholics alike’ – tributes paid to Pope Francis
Pope Francis was in every way a man of the people, Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof said in a statement on X.
Schoof said:
The global Catholic community bids farewell to a leader who recognised the burning issues of our day and called attention to them. With his sober way of life, acts of service and compassion, Pope Francis was a role model for many – Catholics and non-Catholics alike. We remember him with great respect.
Tributes have been made to the Pope, the New Zealand prime minister, Christopher Luxon, posted on X:
I am saddened to hear of the passing of Pope Francis. A man of humility, his legacy includes an unwavering commitment to the vulnerable, to social justice and to interfaith dialogue. My thoughts are with Catholics and all those in New Zealand and around the world who mourn his death.
Yesterday Pope Francis appeared at the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square.
The Pope, 88, came out in a wheelchair and waved from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica saying to the crowds: “Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter.”
However, his Easter address was delivered by a clergy member.
The Pope was then driven around the square.
Last month, Pope Francis was discharged from the hospital after five weeks of treatment for double pneumonia.
‘At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father’: Cardinal Kevin Farrell announces death of Pope Francis
Vatican News has posted a statement from the Vatican on X:
At 9.45am local time on Easter Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, spoke these words at the Casa Santa Marta:
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. 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.
Tributes begin for Pope Francis after Vatican confirms his death, aged 88
Tributes are being paid to Pope Francis after the confirmation of his death by the Vatican. He was aged 88.
Pope Francis died Monday morning, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,″ Farrell said in the announcement. “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.
“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 Triune.″
Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on 14 February for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalisation of his 12-year papacy.
Pope Francis marked Easter Sunday by blessing thousands of people who had gathered for mass in St Peter’s Square and then embarking on a surprise popemobile tour around the piazza on Sunday.
The 88-year-old pontiff did not celebrate mass in the square, delegating the service instead to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St Peter’s Basilica.
Francis was diagnosed with bronchitis in early February, but had continued to hold daily audiences in his Vatican hotel suite, and even presided at an outdoor Mass on Sunday 9 February.
But he had handed over his speeches for an aide to read aloud, saying he was having trouble breathing.
Francis, who had part of one lung removed at age 21, had long battled health problems, especially bouts of acute bronchitis in winter and had used a wheelchair, walker or cane when moving around his apartment.
The Pope was especially prone to lung infections due to developing pleurisy – an inflammation of the thin outer covering of the lung – as an adult.
