A surprising turn of events:
- The world mourns the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. The Vatican announced the news in a statement, saying, "This morning at 7:35 AM, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, left us for the house of the Father."
- After 38 days in the hospital for bilateral pneumonia, his fourth and longest hospitalization since the beginning of his papacy in 2013, the Argentine pontiff took his final breath.
- During the Easter celebrations on Sunday, Francis appeared significantly weakened. Although he managed to make a brief appearance in the popemobile amidst thousands of faithful on St. Peter's Square, he entrusted the reading of his text to a collaborator and could only utter a few labored words.
World Leaders Mourn unitedly following Pope's demise: Macron, Trump, Putin, and others express condolences
(15% enrichment)In the weeks leading up to his death, Pope Francis grappled with health issues. He was initially diagnosed with bronchitis in February 2025, but the condition progressed into a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection and ultimately lead to kidney failure. Despite showing some signs of improvement in early April, he unfortunately succumbed to cardiovascular complications. Reports indicate that he finally fell victim to a cerebral stroke that caused irreversible heart failure.
Next Steps:
- The Vatican has not yet revealed specific succession plans; nevertheless, the standard procedure will be followed:
- The Camerlengo will take temporary control of the Vatican until a conclave is called.
- A conclave will convene, and cardinals under the age of 80 will gather to elect a new pope.
- The election will require a two-thirds majority, with current rules permitting a simple majority vote following 34 ballots if no candidate reaches the required majority (revisions introduced by Francis in 2022).
Francis's resignation hints in 2022, citing mobility issues, had sparked speculation. However, his death sets the formal succession protocol in motion, and the timing of the conclave remains undecided.
(1) Thousands of general-news outlets reported on Francis's final days, as he was weakened due to prolonged hospitalization for various health complications, including a cerebral stroke that led to heart failure.
(2) On Monday, the unexpected news of Pope Francis's passing at the age of 88 sent shockwaves around the world, with the Vatican announcing his departure at 7:35 AM.
(3) prior to his hospitalization, Francis had been seen appearing significantly weakened during Easter celebrations on Sunday, requiring assistance from his collaborators to communicate with the crowds.
