The Roman Catholic leader Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88 on 21 April 2025 during an Easter Monday while in his residence at the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta.

The death of Pope Francis was announced on Vatican News at 9:45 AM by Cardinal Kevin Farrel,Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber at the official residence of Pope at 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,"said Cardinal Kevin Farrel.

Pope Francis was last seen on public on Easter Sunday when he was delivering his last 'Urbi Et Orbi' message to the city and to the world,he appeared from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica and greeted the crowds gathered in a tulip-filled St Peter's Square.

His last message to the world asked to be read by Archbishop Diego Ravelli,the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations because he was not fully-recovered from bilateral pneumonia,and it was impossible for him to address for himself.

"Christ is risen!These words capture the whole meaning of our existence,for we were not made for death but for life.Easter is the celebration of life!God created us for life and wants the human family to rise again!In his eyes,every life is precious!The life of a child in the mother's womb,as well as the lives of the elderly and the sick,who in more and more countries are looked upon as people to be discarded.

What a great thirst for death,for killing,we witness each day in the many conflicts raging in different parts of our world!How much violence we see,often even within families,directed at women and children!How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable,the marginalized,and migrants,"said Pope Francis on Easter Sunday.

He spoke about peace and the sufferings of the Christian people around the world because of conflicts especially those in Palestine and Israel,and he mentioned even anti-Semitism and called for a ceasefire in Gaza.

"I would like us to renew our hope that peace is possible!From the Holy Sepulchre,the Church of the Resurrection,where this year Easter is being celebrated by Catholics and Orthodox on the same day,may the light of peace radiate throughout the Holy Land and the entire world.

I express my closeness to the sufferings of Christians in Palestine and Israel,and to all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people.The growing climate of anti-Semitism throughout the world is worrisome.Yet at the same time,I think of the people of Gaza,and its Christian community in particular,where the terrible conflict continues to cause death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation.I appeal to the warring parties:call a ceasefire,release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace,"added Pope Francis.

Pope Francis' death came after spending 38 days in hospital as he was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia on 18 February 2025.

According to Vatican News,in 1957,in his early 20s,Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in his native Argentina to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection.

Pope Francis was the head of the Catholic Church and the sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 up until his death on Easter Monday,and he succeeded his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI who resigned on 28 February 2013.

He was born on 17 December 1936 as Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aries,Argentina and he became the first person hails from Latin-America to be elected in that position.