Pope Francis Passes Away at 88, Vatican Confirms on Easter Monday
By Okiki Adeduyite & Wale Akinselure | April 21, 2025
Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88. The Vatican officially announced his passing on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at his residence in Casa Santa Marta within Vatican City.
The Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, made the solemn announcement from the Vatican early Monday morning, stating that the Pope died at exactly 7:35 a.m..
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Farrell said. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
Pope Francis had greeted thousands of Catholic faithful just a day earlier during the Easter Sunday Mass at Saint Peter’s Square in a surprise appearance that lifted spirits around the world.
Health Challenges and Final Days
The Pope had recently been recovering from a long hospital stay at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, where he was admitted on February 14, 2025, for bronchitis and later diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia. Although discharged after 38 days, his condition gradually deteriorated in the weeks that followed.
Francis had a long history of respiratory issues. In 1957, in his early twenties, he underwent lung surgery in Argentina. Throughout his papacy, he often battled bouts of influenza, lung inflammation, and other complications — including the cancellation of a 2023 trip to the United Arab Emirates.
Simplicity in Death: Funeral Arrangements
As per his wishes, Pope Francis will be buried without adornments or titles, a detail confirmed by the Vatican. He had approved a revised edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (Funeral Rites of the Roman Pontiff) in 2024, simplifying the papal funeral to reflect humility and the faith of the Church in Christ’s resurrection.
According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, “The renewed rite seeks to emphasize that the funeral of the Pope is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ — not a worldly figure.”
Further details of the funeral and burial location are expected to be released soon.
