Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, passed away at 88 on Easter Monday at 7:35 a.m. The Vatican announced in an official statement that the cause of death was due to a stroke, followed by a coma and heart failure.
Elected as the 266th pope in 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the first Jesuit pope, the first from Latin America and the first non-European to hold the papacy in over a millennium. Pope Francis lead the Catholic Church for a dozen years, during which he emphasized themes of mercy, environmental responsibility, social justice and reform within the Church.
“He taught us to live the values of the gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and marginalized. We commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the triune God.” – Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church
The Vatican announced that a ritual confirming the death of Pope Francis will take place at 8:00 p.m. on Monday. Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, the Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the ceremony in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
Many global leaders and religious figures have taken to social media to express their condolences.
President of Argentina, Javier Milei, wrote, “As President, as an Argentine, and, fundamentally, as a man of faith, I bid farewell to the Holy Father and stand with all of us who are today dealing with this sad news.”
Vice President JD Vance, who visited the Pope just a day prior on Easter Sunday, wrote, “My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.”
St. Michael Catholic Church in Gainesville also took to social media, sharing, “Let us keep Pope Francis in our prayers as we continue to journey in faith together and surrender ourselves to the hope that this Easter season and Jubilee year brings.”
Pope Francis’ successor will be chosen during a conclave, a private meeting within the Vatican between designated cardinals chosen to elect a new pope.
