Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died at age 88, the Vatican announced on 21 April 2025.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell stated in a video message released by the Vatican.
“At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” Farrell said.
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Health Struggles and Hospital Stays of the First Latin American Pope
The 88-year-old pontiff had faced numerous health challenges throughout his papacy, particularly in recent months.
On 14 February, Pope Francis was hospitalised for bronchitis treatment. The Vatican later reported he had been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and received blood transfusions due to low platelet levels in his blood, a condition associated with anaemia.
His condition deteriorated on 22 February when the Vatican announced he was in a critical state after a “prolonged respiratory crisis” requiring high-flow oxygen. The following day, Vatican officials revealed Pope Francis was showing an “initial, mild” kidney failure.
Thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square to pray for his recovery during this period, while others left flowers and cards at the Rome hospital where he received treatment.
The Pope’s 38-day hospital stay concluded on 23 Mar when he made his first public appearance in five weeks, smiling and giving a thumbs-up to crowds gathered outside Gemelli hospital. He then returned to the Vatican, making a surprise stop at his favourite basilica.
Doctors prescribed two months of rest and recovery, noting that while the pneumonia infection had been successfully treated, Pope Francis would continue taking oral medication for a fungal lung infection and undergo respiratory and physical therapy.
Health issues had been a consistent concern during his papacy. As a young man in Argentina, he had part of one lung removed. In his later years, he required a wheelchair or cane for mobility and limited his public speaking while battling various respiratory conditions.
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In 2021, he underwent surgery to remove part of his colon, and in June 2023, he had an operation for an abdominal hernia that caused “recurrent, painful and worsening” symptoms.
Legacy of the “People’s Pope” and the Path Forward
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope on 13 Mar 2013, becoming the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church and surprising many Church observers who viewed the Argentine cleric as an outsider.
Throughout his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis projected simplicity, choosing not to occupy the ornate papal apartments used by his predecessors. He said he preferred living in a community setting for his “psychological health.”
Pope Francis inherited a Church beset by a child sex abuse scandal and internal Vatican bureaucracy conflicts, taking office with a clear mandate to restore order.
However, his papacy was marked by tension as conservatives accused him of abandoning cherished traditions, while progressives felt he hadn’t done enough to reshape the 2,000-year-old institution.
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Despite these internal challenges, Pope Francis became a global figure, drawing massive crowds during his international travels as he promoted interfaith dialogue and peace.
His advocacy for marginalised groups, particularly migrants and those in poverty, earned him the nickname “People’s Pope.”
In 2016, he washed the feet of refugees from different religions at an asylum centre outside Rome in what was described as a “gesture of humility and service.”
Pope Francis was known for his progressive positions on many issues, from climate change to wealth inequality.
His approach to the LGBTQ community was unprecedented, beginning with his remark to reporters, “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge them?”
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However, in April 2024, he appeared to reaffirm the Vatican’s opposition to gender reassignment, surrogacy, abortion, and euthanasia by signing the text “Dignitas Infinita” (Infinite Dignity).
Pope Francis appointed nearly 80 per cent of the cardinal electors who will choose the next pope, increasing the likelihood that his successor will continue his progressive policies despite resistance from traditionalists.
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