Pope Francis 1936 – 2025
By Catholic San Francisco
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025 at the age of 88. The Holy Father had been suffering from pneumonia and respiratory issues for several months, recently spending 38 days in Rome’s Gemelli hospital.
Since returning to the Vatican, the Pope has been seen several times both in private visits to St. Peter’s and St. Mary Major, two of the Papal Basilica’s in Rome, and also publicly at Jubilee events for the Jubilee Year of Hope. His last public appearance was on Easter Sunday, April 20, where he greeted the crowd in St. Peter’s Square before his Urbi et Orbi message was read by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations.
In his statement on the passing of Pope Francis, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone wrote:
“Upon learning the news of Pope Francis’ passing, let us join together in prayer that the Lord may grant him safe passage to the heavenly Kingdom, and give him the reward of God’s good and faithful servants. The outpouring of prayers, good will and love for our Holy Father not only from Catholics but from people of different faiths all over the world is edifying and personally fills me with gratitude.
Pope Francis called on us all to give more, sacrifice more, and care more about the poorest and most vulnerable, from the tiny infant in the womb, to the elderly and infirmed, to the migrant and the refugee. Let us take inspiration from his words and example and put that inspiration into action. That is the greatest tribute we could give to him.
Eternal rest grant unto Pope Francis, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”
Born Dec. 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was ordained in 1969. He served as a Jesuit provincial and seminary rector before Pope St. John Paul II appointed him auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992. He became Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was elevated to the College of Cardinals in 2001. In 2013, he was elected Pope.
Neither the date for the Holy Father’s funeral nor the upcoming conclave have been set yet.
For more updates on the death of Pope Francis, visit www.sfarch.org/pope-francis.