Pope Francis, the groundbreaking first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church—and affectionately dubbed the “pope of the poor” for his unwavering solidarity with society’s most vulnerable—passed away on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced via video statement. His twelve-year papacy, marked by bold challenges to economic inequality and a heartfelt outreach to those on society’s margins, came to a close after a long battle with illness.
In what would become his parting gift to the faithful, Pope Francis’s Easter address—recorded on Sunday at Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre, where Catholics and Orthodox worshippers joined in celebration—resonated as a final plea for global harmony. He urged an end to the conflict in Ukraine, insisting that peace can never flourish without fundamental liberties: “There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and respect for differing views,” he said, warning against the slippery slope from personal defense to an unchecked arms race.
With conviction, he beseeched, “May the risen Christ grant Ukraine his Easter gift of peace, inspiring all parties to strive for a just and enduring resolution.” His compassion extended beyond Europe: he prayed for Myanmar’s citizens, already suffering years of armed strife and the aftermath of a devastating Sagaing earthquake, and he lauded the recent ceasefire efforts as beacons of hope for those orphaned and elderly souls left in its wake.
Turning his gaze to Africa, he implored divine consolation for communities in the grip of violence, most notably in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and South Sudan: “May the risen Christ, our hope, grant peace and consolation to the African peoples who are victims of violence and conflict.”
Cardinal Kevin Farrell later conveyed the solemn news: “This morning at 7:35 am (05:35 GMT), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father.” The pontiff, who as a young man endured chronic lung disease and even lost part of one lung, had been hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital since February 14 following a severe respiratory crisis that escalated into double pneumonia. In his passing, the Church mourns not only a spiritual guide but a tireless advocate for the marginalized—his final words echoing as an urgent call to weave freedom and compassion into the fabric of our world.