Pope Francis dies on Easter Monday after long battle with illness

Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican announced in a video statement on Monday.

“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church," said Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, in the official announcement.

Pope Francis had been battling a severe respiratory illness for several weeks. He was first admitted to Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Italy, on February 14, 2025, after struggling with breathing difficulties. After weeks of treatment, he was discharged on March 24, but his health continued to decline.

In recent years, the 88-year-old Pope faced multiple health challenges, including knee and hip pain, and an inflamed colon. He was particularly vulnerable to respiratory infections, having had part of his right lung removed at the age of 21 due to a serious illness.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, served as the 266th pontiff of the Catholic Church. He was elected on March 13, 2013, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI. According to canon law, the Pope is recognised as the successor of the Apostle Peter, the head of the college of bishops, the Vicar of Christ, and the pastor of the universal Catholic Church on Earth.

Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis was known for pushing reforms within the Church and taking a bold stand on pressing social issues. He openly advocated for the rights and dignity of LGBTQIA+ members, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate change, spoke out about the global refugee crisis, and called for the Church to "seek forgiveness" for its role in the "scourge" of child sexual abuse.

In one of his final acts of solidarity, even while gravely ill, Pope Francis continued his daily calls to a parish in Gaza City, checking in on the Catholic community there amid escalating violence. He had recently issued strong criticism of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.

Before becoming Pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio dedicated his life to service as a Jesuit priest in Argentina. He later became Archbishop of Buenos Aires and was eventually elevated to cardinal. As Archbishop, he was deeply engaged with the local community, often walking the streets and standing with the people, while maintaining a conservative stance that led to tensions with the Argentine government.