The Vatican has introduced the dying of Pope Francis, the Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church, on the age of 88.
The pontiff, who assumed the papacy in 2013 following the resignation of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, was a transformative determine in fashionable Catholicism.
Official announcement from the Vatican
Cardinal Kevin Farrell confirmed the information in an official assertion, expressing profound grief:
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Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I have to announce the dying of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 a.m. this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father.
His total life was devoted to the service of the Lord and His Church. He taught us to reside the values of the Gospel with constancy, braveness and common love, particularly in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.
With immense gratitude for his instance as a real disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.
Following papal custom, the method of electing a brand new pope—often known as the conclave—will begin inside 15 to twenty days.
The Legacy of the “Folks’s Pope”
Born in 1936, Pope Francis made historical past as the primary pontiff from South America. His papacy was outlined by compassion for the marginalised, incomes him the title of the “Folks’s Pope”.
In 2016, he famously washed the toes of refugees from varied faiths at a Roman asylum centre, embodying his dedication to humility and repair.
He was an outspoken advocate on local weather change, financial inequality, and the position of ladies within the Church.
His unprecedented openness towards the LGBTQ+ neighborhood marked a big shift in Vatican discourse. In 2013, he said:
“If an individual is homosexual and seeks God and has good will, who am I to evaluate them?”
Nonetheless, his stance on gender id, surrogacy, abortion, and euthanasia remained aligned with conventional Church doctrine. In April 2024, he strengthened these positions by approving the doc “Dignitas Infinita” (Infinite Dignity).
Controversies and Lasting Impression
Regardless of his progressive repute, Pope Francis confronted scrutiny in 2024 following experiences that he used a homophobic slur in personal discussions. This incident sparked debate over the stability between his reformist imaginative and prescient and Church orthodoxy.
Because the world mourns his passing, Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy of pastoral heat, international advocacy, and a Church eternally modified by his management.
Subsequent Steps: The Vatican will quickly start preparations for the conclave, the place cardinals will collect to elect the 266th successor of Saint Peter.
