Catholics in mourning: Pope Francis Passed Away on April 21, 2025

Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced from the Casa Santa Marta: “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. He dedicated his entire life to the service of the Lord and the Church.”

The death occurred in Rome, following respiratory complications that had kept him hospitalized for over a month at the Gemelli Hospital. He was discharged on March 23, but his condition worsened in the final hours.

The Vatican’s official statement highlighted his work as a “true disciple of the Lord Jesus,” emphasizing his focus on “the poorest and most marginalized.” Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was the first Latin American pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church.

His election in March 2013 marked a milestone: not only was he the first Jesuit pope, but also the first non-European since Gregory III (741 AD). His austere style, rejection of symbols of power, and pastoral approach defined his papacy.

Francis advocated for a more inclusive Church, facing resistance from conservative sectors due to his openness toward same-sex couples and greater female participation. His focus on social justice and environmental issues resonated globally.

His death coincides with the 2025 Jubilee, inaugurated on December 25, 2023. This event, which attracts millions of pilgrims, will continue until January 6, 2026. The opening of the Holy Door symbolized his vision of an accessible and merciful Church.

The first pope from the Southern Hemisphere

He was also the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, reinforcing the geographic diversification of the Holy See. His Argentine roots and Jesuit formation strongly shaped his pastoral theology.

Hours before his passing, Francis took part in the Easter Sunday celebrations in St. Peter’s Square. He appeared in a wheelchair and delegated the reading of his message to an assistant. From the balcony, he greeted the crowd with a joyful “Happy Easter!”

He later toured the square in a vehicle, stopping to bless babies. This image, shared around the world, became his final public appearance before his death.

His funeral will take place in three days, following Vatican protocols. Thousands of faithful have already gathered in St. Peter’s Square, recalling the historic funeral of John Paul II (2005), which drew four million people.

The immortal quotes of Pope Francis

If Francis left anything behind, it was a library of quotes that sparked debate, criticism, and praise throughout his papacy:

• “The media only write about sinners and scandals, but that’s normal, because ‘a falling tree makes more noise than a growing forest.’”

• “I prefer a Church that is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and clinging to its own security.”

• “No one can grow if they do not accept their smallness.”

• “How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?”

• “The question of truth is really a question of memory, deep memory, because it deals with something prior to ourselves and can unite us in a way that transcends our small, limited individual consciousness. It is a question about the origin of all that is, in whose light we can glimpse the goal and, thus, the meaning of our common path.”

• “This is the struggle of every person: to be free or to be a slave.”

• “Even if a person’s life has been a disaster, destroyed by vices, drugs, or something else, God is in that person’s life. You can and must seek God in every human life. Even if the person’s life is a field full of thorns and weeds, there is always space where the good seed can grow. You have to trust in God.”

• “Where there is truth, there is also light, but let’s not confuse light with flash.”

• “And here is the first word I want to say to you: joy! Do not be men and women of sadness: a Christian should never be sad. Never give in to discouragement! Our joy is not born from having many possessions, but from having encountered a Person: Jesus, in our midst.”

• “If I’m not mistaken, Sigmund Freud said that every idealization hides an aggression. To depict the Pope as a kind of Superman or star is offensive to me. The Pope is a man who laughs, cries, sleeps well, and has friends like everyone else. A normal person.”

• “If a person is gay and seeks the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”

• “Women theologians in the Church are like strawberries on the cake — we need more of them (…), they offer new contributions to theological reflection.”