Flowers surround a plaque commemorating Pope Francis’s 2015 visit at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception after his passing on April 21, 2025, in Washington, DC. The Vatican announced that Pope Francis, 88, died at 07:35 local time, stating that “the Bishop of Rome, Francis, has returned to the house of the Father.” He made a final appearance in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, warmly greeting thousands of attendees. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
OAN Staff James Meyers 9:18 AM – Monday, April 21, 2025
Pope Francis, renowned for his reformist views that reshaped the traditional stance of the Catholic Church and motivated progressives, has passed away at 88, as confirmed by the Vatican on Monday.
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At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words:
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning,… pic.twitter.com/De4pEZkvs9
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” stated Cardinal Kevin Farrell in a release from the Vatican early Monday.
“He taught us to embody the Gospel’s values with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and marginalized,” Farrell reflected.
A somber atmosphere settled following the announcement of his passing, as mourners convened at St. Peter’s Square, where the pope had made his last public appearance in a wheelchair on Easter Sunday.
“Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter,” Francis conveyed in his final Easter address, waving and blessing the crowd amid applause.
Upon receiving the news of Francis’s death, a steady flow of people made their way to the basilica to pay their tributes.
“Even if I can’t enter the Basilica, I came here with my husband to offer a prayer,” Titti Lepore, 56, shared with NBC News. “I’m Catholic, so I felt compelled to come here as soon as I learned of Pope Francis’s passing.”
The Vatican disclosed plans for his body on Monday, stating it would be placed in his coffin tonight in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
Cardinal Farrell will oversee “the rite of confirmation of death and the placing of the body in the coffin,” as noted in a Vatican statement.
Following this, Francis’s body will be moved to St. Peter’s Basilica, allowing his followers to pay their respects, potentially starting as early as Wednesday morning.
President Donald Trump expressed his condolences and ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in memory of Francis.
Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!
From Donald Trump Truth Social 04/21/25 07:59 AM
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) April 21, 2025
As a token of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) April 21, 2025
Tributes poured in from around the world, with Vice President JD Vance, who met with Francis just a day prior, remembering the pope in a heartfelt post on X.
I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.
I was glad to see him yesterday, despite his evident illness. I’ll always remember the inspiring homily he delivered in the early days…
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her sentiments in a Facebook post, stating that news of the pontiff’s demise “deeply saddens us, for we lose a great man and pastor.” French President Emmanuel Macron remarked on X: “From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis desired the Church to spread joy and hope, especially among the poorest.”
Papa Francesco è tornato alla casa del Padre. Una notizia che ci addolora profondamente, perché ci lascia un grande uomo e un grande pastore. Ho avuto il privilegio di godere della sua amicizia, dei suoi consigli e dei suoi insegnamenti, che non sono mai venuti meno neanche nei… pic.twitter.com/pkRco1tgD3
Pope Francis’s body will be displayed in an open coffin at St. Peter’s Basilica, a revered site where many popes have been laid to rest for centuries. However, as per his wishes, he is expected to be buried at the ancient Basilica of St. Mary Major, located just outside the Vatican walls.
In the meantime, his successor will be decided through a conclave, a confidential assembly of cardinals tasked with electing a new pope at the Vatican.
In his later years, Francis faced several health challenges that left him frail, often relying on a wheelchair or cane for mobility. Most recently, he contended with diverticulitis and bronchitis, and occasionally needed assistance reading his speeches due to shortness of breath. He spent a significant portion of the previous two months hospitalized battling pneumonia.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, Francis’s early career included stints as a bouncer and a janitor. He trained as a chemist and food technician before becoming ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1969.
He rose through the ranks in Argentina, taking the helm of the archdiocese in 1998. In 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed him to the Sacred College of Cardinals, which elects new popes.
In 2013, Francis became the 266th pope, succeeding retired Pope Benedict XVI, and made history as the first Jesuit and non-European to lead the Catholic Church in over a millennium.
Argentina’s President, Javier Milei, paid tribute to the legacy of Francis as the first Argentine and Latin American pope.
“As President, as an Argentine, and fundamentally as a person of faith, I bid farewell to the Holy Father and stand alongside all of us processing this sorrowful news,” Milei expressed in a post on X.
Francis assumed papacy amid numerous controversies, including scandals surrounding clerical sexual abuse and financial irregularities, not to mention the unprecedented resignation of Benedict, the first pope to step down in 600 years.
However, unlike his predecessor, Francis reached out warmly to the LGBTQ+ community and reformed church bureaucracy.
At the end of 2023, Francis announced a groundbreaking shift in Vatican policy, allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, a decision that sparked debate within Catholic circles.
He also tackled the ecclesiastical child sexual abuse crisis by revising church laws, mandating action from bishops against clerics accused of sexually abusing minors and adults for the first time in four decades.
Francis encountered significant pushback from conservative American clerics when he encouraged people to receive Covid vaccinations.
He faced criticism for allegedly softening the prohibition on administering Communion to divorced Catholics remarried civilly.
Despite his progressive moves, Francis upheld some traditional church values, standing firmly against abortion, equating it to “hiring a hitman to solve a problem.” He also supported clerical celibacy and opposed the ordination of women.
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