Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and a transformative figure in modern Church history, has died. He passed away at 7:35 a.m. on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88.
The Vatican confirmed his death in a brief statement, noting that the Holy Father "passed peacefully" in his residence at the Vatican. No immediate cause of death has been disclosed, though the Pope had been battling health challenges in recent years, including respiratory issues and limited mobility.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, Pope Francis made history in 2013 as the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope, and the first non-European pontiff in over 1,200 years. His papacy was marked by an emphasis on mercy, humility, and social justice, as well as outspoken advocacy for the poor, migrants, and the environment.
In his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis became a global moral voice, urging a “revolution of tenderness” in a world often marked by conflict and inequality. His encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti received worldwide attention for calling humanity to environmental stewardship and universal fraternity.
As the Church mourns his passing, tributes are already pouring in from leaders around the world. Flags at the Vatican are flying at half-mast, and preparations are underway for a funeral Mass expected to draw millions of mourners and heads of state.
The College of Cardinals will soon convene to begin the formal process of selecting a new pope.
Pope Francis is remembered not only as a spiritual shepherd but as a pope who brought the Church closer to the people — walking with the wounded, reforming institutions, and preaching hope in the face of a changing world.
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected to lead the Catholic Church in March 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI stood down.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta.
The Pope's death comes fewer than 24 hours after he made an appearance at the Vatican's St Peter's Square for Easter Sunday.
He came out in a wheelchair and waved from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica to cheering crowds and said: "Dear brothers and sisters, happy Easter."
His traditional Easter address and blessing was read by an aide while he sat, watching.
Following the blessing, he was driven around the square. As he passed through the crowds, his procession paused a number of times as babies were brought over for him to bless.
A short while ago, His Eminence, Cardinal Farrell, announced with sorrow the death of Pope Francis, 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 (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church."
"He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised."
Farrell adds: "With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
Pope Francis's final message: No peace without freedom of religion, thought and expression.
Pope Francis' Easter Sunday message was one of peace and "respect for the views of others".
An aide read on his behalf:
Quote Message
There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression."
In his final address, the pontiff remembered the people of Gaza, in particular its Christian population, as the conflict "causes death and destruction" and creates a "deplorable humanitarian situation". He also called growing global antisemitism "worrisome".
"What a great thirst for death, for killing we see in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world," he said.
"I express my closeness to the sufferings... for all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people," the message said. "Call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace."
The Pope also encouraged all parties involved in the Ukraine war to "pursue efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace".
Health issues clouded the Pope's final months
In the final months of his life, the Pope's ill-health saw him spend several weeks in hospital.
On 14 February, the 88-year-old was taken to the Gemelli hospital in Rome to be treated for pneumonia in both lungs. He had experienced difficulties breathing for several days.
He was discharged from hospital on 23 March.
The pontiff was particularly susceptible to pneumonia, which is an infection of the lungs that can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, after undergoing a partial lung removal as a young man.
When were the Pope's final public appearances?
The Pope visited a prison in Rome on Holy Thursday
Pope Francis made a number of public appearances after being discharged from hospital, where he had been treated for pneumonia, on 23 March:
- On 6 April he made a brief appearance in a wheelchair at the Vatican - his first since being discharged
- Three days later he had a private meeting with King Charles III and Queen Camilla
- He visited St Peter's Basilica on 10 April and was seen without his traditional papal attire
- Over the Easter period, he made a surprise visit on Holy Thursday to Regina Coeli prison in Rome, where he greeted inmates
- Two days later, on Holy Saturday, the Pope stopped unannounced to pray and greet some of the faithful at St Peter’s Basilica
- His final public appearance came on Easter Sunday, when he was welcomed at St Peter's Square by crowds and he wished people a happy Easter
- The same day he met US Vice-President JD Vance, who told the pontiff: "I pray for you every day"
What the Pope's funeral will look like
Pope Francis watches pallbearers carrying the cypress coffin of former Pope Benedict in 2023
Pope Francis's funeral will look a little different to past ceremonies.
Proceedings will begin with the Vatican's highest-ranking cardinal, Kevin Farrell, presiding over the "rite of the confirmation of death" and placing the Pope's body in a coffin.
A papal funeral has traditionally been an elaborate affair, but Pope Francis recently approved plans to simplify the whole procedure.
The late pontiff opted for a basic wooden coffin, and scrapped the tradition of placing the Pope's body on a raised platform for public viewing.
Instead, mourners will be invited to pay their respects while his body remains inside the coffin, with the lid removed.
Francis will be laid to rest in the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome – the first time a Pope has been buried outside the Vatican in more than a Century.
How the hours after the death of Pope Francis have unfolded
A large crowd has gathered in front of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican
Tributes have been pouring in for Pope Francis from around the world.
The pontiff had been ill for several weeks, but appeared in public yesterday to give an Easter Sunday blessing in St Peter’s Square.
Yesterday, he also briefly met US Vice-President JD Vance, who shared his condolences this morning.
But if you’re just joining us, here’s what's been happening today:
Pope Francis dies aged 88
The Pope died at his Vatican residence at 07:35 CEST (06:35 BST), the Vatican said in a statement released at about 09:45 CEST.
World leaders pay tribute
There has been a flurry of tributes from global leaders, with King Charles III, the UK's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and a White House statement among a chorus of voices praising his leadership.
Mourners gather in the Vatican
Crowds are gathering outside St Peter's Basilica, in Vatican City, where one BBC reporter saw people crying in the street.
What happens next?
As we've been reporting, the Pope's funeral will be less elaborate than that of previous pontiffs, as he had recently approved plans to make the event much simpler.
Some 138 Catholic cardinals will vote for Pope Francis’s successor in an election – known as a conclave – which is held in secret inside the Sistine Chapel.Pope Francis' body could be moved to St Peter's Basilica as early as Wednesday, according to Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni.
He says a group of cardinals will meet on Wednesday and make a formal decision, but if it goes ahead it would allow people to pay their respects
'A voice for peace with a contagious smile': World leaders' tributes
Tributes are pouring in now:
- Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof says "Pope Francis was in every way a man of the people"
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says "he inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate"
- India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he is "deeply pained" by the passing of Pope Francis
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk remembers Pope Francis as a "good, warm and sensitive man"
- Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi says Pope Francis "was a voice of peace, love and compassion"
- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola says "his contagious smile captured millions of people’s hearts across the globe"
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog hails his "boundless compassion"
- Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter says Pope Francis was a "great spiritual leader, a tireless advocate for peace"
- Scottish First Minister John Swinney describes him as "a voice for peace, tolerance and reconciliation"
- He died at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican news service says. "His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church," Cardinal Farrell says.
- World leaders are paying tribute, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling him a "man of humility" and the Dutch PM describing him as a "role model for Catholics and non-Catholics alike".
- Moscow's Patriarchate says Pope Francis played a "significant role in active development of contacts between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church", Russian news agency Tass reports
- The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem says a mass will take place at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre on Wednesday
- President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: "Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!"
- Former President Joe Biden says the Pope was "unlike any who came before him" and would be remembered as among the most "consequential leaders of our time"
- Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama say he was a "rare leader who made us want to be better people" and "shook us out of our complacency"
- The Jesuits in Britain says it is "grateful for the gift of Pope Francis's leadership"
- Vice-President JD Vance says his "heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world". He was one of the last people to meet the Pope when he made a visit to the Vatican yesterday
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he and his wife Jeanette are "saddened". "We unite in prayer with Catholics worldwide for the repose of the pontiff’s soul," he adds.
- Palestinian Christians mourn loss of 'great friend'.
"He gave us hope," says Roni Tabash in BethlehemPalestinian Christians feel they have lost a "great friend" says Anton Salman, mayor of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.
"He was one of the few leaders in the world who was supporting Palestinian rights and came running to achieve peace in the region," he tells me.
When the Pope visited the Holy Land in 2014, a defining image was his prayer for peace by the graffitied, concrete wall which blocks Bethlehem from Jerusalem - part of Israel’s West Bank barrier.
He went on to lead thousands of local Christians - part of a dwindling religious minority - in an open-air mass outside the Nativity Church, built on the spot where it is believed Jesus was born.
"It was really a very special day. Even I sang for him," says Roni Tabash, a local souvenir seller who has large pictures of the Pope on the shutters of his store. "He gave us hope, he always told us to have more faith, to resist, to continue, to stay here."
Many Palestinians praise Pope Francis for his regular calls to a priest in Gaza City at the Holy Family Catholic Church, as he checked on the well-being of some of the hundreds of Gazan Christians sheltering on site.
Recently the Pope had been increasingly vocal about Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, calling the situation there "dramatic and deplorable". In his last Easter message he called for a ceasefire, demanding that Hamas release remaining hostages as well as for aid of "starving people that aspires to a future of peace".
Argentina’s President Javier Milei has said he feels “profound sorrow” at the death of the Pope.
He said that “despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his kindness and wisdom was a true honour for me”.
Pope Francis did not return to Argentina during his papacy.
President Milei, a staunch libertarian who has introduced sweeping austerity measures, had clashed with the Pope in the past.
He had called the pontiff a socialist and insults including the devil’s representative on earth and an “imbecile”.
However, he softened his tone towards the Pope after taking office and relations improved.
Milei's government has announced seven days of national mourning.
- May God bless Pope Francis - Donald Trump.
Trump met the Pope in 2017United States President Donald Trump has posted a message on his Truth Social platform, marking the death of the Pope.
Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!"
President Trump
- 'He made us feel the love of God' - Philippines in mourning.
In the Philippines, there has been a massive outpouring of emotion. Most of its population is Catholic - more than 85 million people - the biggest Catholic population in Asia, and third in the world after Brazil and Mexico.The president of the Philippine Catholic Church, Cardinal Virgilio David, has asked all the parishes to ring their bells and to pray for Pope Francis. Easter Monday masses have been turned into mourning services.
One artist's image that's quickly gone viral on Philippine social media shows the Pope's zucchetto - his skullcap - hovering above his head and transforming into a halo.
Many are sharing their memories of the Pope's visit in 2015, particularly to the typhoon-hit area of Tacloban, which was interrupted by storms.
"In sunshine or under the rain, he made us feel the love of God. The rains and our tears of joy were mixed, running down our cheeks," said Socrates B Villegas, the Archbishop of Lingayen and Dagupan.
- Pope made the world a better place - South African President.
Catholics and people of all faiths are saddened today, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa says
- May Pope's legacy continue to inspire generations - Ethiopian PM. Pope Francis was the first Pope to visit South Sudan, which became an independent country in 2011
We've been seeing tributes to the late Pope from across Africa, a continent with the world's fastest-growing Catholic population.
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed writes on X: "I extend my deepest condolences on the passing of Pope Francis... may his legacy of compassion, humility, and service to humanity continue to inspire generations to come."
Kenyan President William Ruto calls the Pope's passing a "big loss" to the Christian world, and praises Francis's "unwavering commitment to inclusivity and justice".
Since becoming Pope in 2013, Francis made multiple trips to Africa.
Yesterday, in his Easter message, he appealed for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and South Sudan.
- The union flag will be flown at half-mast at royal residences where King Charles is not in residence, to mark the Pope's passing.
- Putin has 'fondest memory' of the Pope - Kremlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin remembers Pope Francis as a "defender of the highest values of humanism and justice", the Kremlin says.
- Pope Francis knew how to give hope - Zelensky.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has paid tribute to Pope Francis, saying:He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity."
Zelensky adds that the late Pope prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians.
"We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support. Eternal memory!"
- 'A Pope for the poor, downtrodden and forgotten' - Keir Starmer. We've just heard from the UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
- King Charles remembers meeting with Pope with 'particular affection' - tribute in full. The Pope greets the then-Prince of Wales during a visit to the Vatican in 2019Following the death of Pope Francis, King Charles has released the following message:My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry.His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many. The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. We send our most heart-felt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ.
Among the last high-profile meetings held by Pope Francis was with King Charles and Queen Camilla, which took place in the Vatican two weeks ago, during their visit to Italy.
It was a private meeting, as their official state visit to the Vatican had been cancelled because of the Pope’s health problems. But Buckingham Palace said it was one of the highlights of the royal couple’s visit to Italy, describing it as a “very significant and special moment”.
There had been speculation during the trip whether a brief meeting would still take place - and it was said to have been finally arranged at the last minute, with the King and Queen going to the Casa Santa Maria where the Pope had been convalescing.
The King and Queen had been celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary that day and Pope Francis gave them his best wishes for their anniversary.
The King and Queen had been praying for the Pope’s recovery - and Pope Francis in turn wished King Charles well with his own health problems, with the King being treated for cancer.
The 20-minute meeting was said by Palace officials to have been a very moving occasion with a great conversation.
But there was no video recording of the event, only stills taken by a Vatican photographer.
King Charles has been a great advocate of building links between different faiths and the planned state visit to the Vatican would have seen symbolic moments such as an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel.
- Pope's compassion and leadership praised by UK politicians
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch met the Pope in 2022
The leaders of UK political parties have praised Pope Francis's courage and leadership.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch pays tribute to the pontiff's "humility, courage and conviction".
Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, calls Pope Francis a "leader of compassion and courage".
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says his "sympathies go out to all in the Catholic Church".
Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan praises the late Pope's "example of compassionate leadership".
Scottish First Minister John Swinney says the Pope "brought comfort, assurance and hope".
We haven't heard from the UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, or King Charles III yet, but we'll let you know as soon as we hear from them.
- 'My heart goes out': JD Vance pays tribute day after meeting Pope Francis
US Vice-President JD Vance had a brief meeting Pope Francis yesterday
US Vice-President JD Vance says he has just learned of the passing of Pope Francis.
He adds: "My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him."
Vance arrived in Rome on Friday and on Saturday met Vatican officials.
He also had a brief private meeting with the Pope.
- Church of England's acting head pays tribute
- Pope Francis's rise from Buenos Aires bouncer to Jesuit priest
Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 17 December 1936.
The eldest of five children, his parents had fled their native Italy to escape the evils of fascism.
He enjoyed tango dancing and became a supporter of his local football club, San Lorenzo.
He was lucky to escape with his life after a serious bout of pneumonia, undergoing an operation to remove part of a lung. It would leave him susceptible to infection throughout his life.
As an elderly man he also suffered from pain in his right knee, which he described as a "physical humiliation".
The young Bergoglio worked as a nightclub bouncer and floor sweeper, before graduating as a chemist.
At a local factory, he worked closely with Esther Ballestrino, who campaigned against Argentina's military dictatorship. She was tortured, her body never found.
He became a Jesuit, studied philosophy and taught literature and psychology. Ordained a decade later, he won swift promotion, becoming provincial superior for Argentina in 1973.
- Pope Francis leaves a profound legacy - Spanish PM.
The French president is pictured here meeting the Pope in 2023
French President Emmanuel Macron is among the first world leaders to pay tribute to Pope Francis, calling him a "man of humility, on the side of the most vulnerable and most fragile".
His death comes a day after he appeared in St Peter's Square to wish "Happy Easter" to thousands of worshippers
Francis's papacy heralded many firsts and while he never stopped introducing reforms to the Catholic Church, he remained popular among traditionalists.
What happens when the Pope dies?
A papal funeral has traditionally been an elaborate affair, but Pope Francis recently approved plans to make the whole procedure less complex.
Previous pontiffs were buried in three nested coffins made of cypress, lead and oak.
Pope Francis has opted for a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc.
He has also scrapped the tradition of placing the Pope's body on a raised platform - known as a catafalque - in St Peter's Basilica for public viewing.
Instead, mourners will be invited to pay their respects while his body remains inside the coffin, with the lid removed.
Francis will also be the first Pope in more than a Century to be buried outside the Vatican.
He will be laid to rest in the Basilica of St Mary Major, one of four major papal basilicas in Rome.
Pope's death comes in Catholic jubilee year
The pontiff's death not only follows the most important calendar event for Catholics, but falls into the special jubilee year, which comes around every 25 years.
The jubilee kicked off when the Pope opened the usually bricked-up Holy Door at St Peter's Basilica on 24 December, and sees millions of pilgrims descend on the Vatican to pass through the doorway and seek forgiveness for their sins.
Tens of thousands of Catholics had gathered for the Easter Mass in this special year.
Week of mourning declared in home country of Pope Francis
Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, has declared seven days of national mourning in Pope Francis’s home country, according to his spokesman.
Pope Francis was a source of immense pride for Argentina, where the majority of the population identify as Catholic, and the wider region.
He was the first pope from Latin America. Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, has declared seven days of national mourning in Pope Francis’s home country, according to his spokesman. Pope Francis was a source of immense pride for Argentina, where the majority of the population identify as Catholic, and the wider region. He was the first pope from Latin America. The Pope's death has already prompted gatherings in the capital Buenos Aires. His focus on helping the poor and tackling economic inequality resonated in a country that has faced years of economic turmoil. Though, in the past, these views led to a strained relationship with President Milei due to ideological differences. He provided a strong – and progressive – voice for the Catholic Church in Latin America, home to nearly 40% of the world’s Catholics, at a time when evangelical Protestantism is on the rise in the region. He was named Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992 and then became Archbishop. His supporters saw him as a strong voice for the Southern Hemisphere more widely, drawing attention to global inequality after centuries of European leadership of the Catholic Church. His critics felt he failed to do enough to oppose Argentina’s brutal military dictatorship, a period where thousands of people were tortured, killed, or forcibly "disappeared" from 1976-1983.
The Pope's death has already prompted gatherings in the capital Buenos Aires. His focus on helping the poor and tackling economic inequality resonated in a country that has faced years of economic turmoil. Though, in the past, these views led to a strained relationship with President Milei due to ideological differences.
He provided a strong – and progressive – voice for the Catholic Church in Latin America, home to nearly 40% of the world’s Catholics, at a time when evangelical Protestantism is on the rise in the region.
He was named Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992 and then became Archbishop. His supporters saw him as a strong voice for the Southern Hemisphere more widely, drawing attention to global inequality after centuries of European leadership of the Catholic Church.
His critics felt he failed to do enough to oppose Argentina’s brutal military dictatorship, a period where thousands of people were tortured, killed, or forcibly "disappeared" from 1976-1983.
San Lorenzo: 'He was always one of us' - Pope's football club
Born in Buenos Aires, Pope Francis became a passionate follower of one of the oldest football clubs in Argentina, San Lorenzo. In the last few moments, the club has paid tribute to the Pope who for years was a season ticket holder and never hid the club's colours (even when he became the head of the Catholic Church). "He was never just one of us, but always one of us," the club says in post on X. "Cuervo as a child and as a man... Cuervo as a priest and Cardinal... Cuervo as Pope too... He always transmitted his passion for Ciclón." "Wrapped in deep sorrow, from San Lorenzo today we say to Francis: Goodbye, thank you, and farewell! We will be together for eternity!" Cuervo, the Spanish word for "crow", and cición, meaning "cyclone", are two of San Lorenzo's nickname.
"Wrapped in deep sorrow, from San Lorenzo today we say to Francis: Goodbye, thank you, and farewell! We will be together for eternity!"
Cuervo, the Spanish word for "crow", and cición, meaning "cyclone", are two of San Lorenzo's nicknames.
Why many in Latin America saw Pope Francis as one of their own
When Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the first Pope from Latin America in March 2013, there was jubilation in the streets of Argentina.
Some international media said the celebrations resembled those after a win in a football match, with people waving the Argentine flag and shouting “Francisco!”, the name the newly elected pope had chosen for himself.
The manner of the celebrations was fitting for a man who was himself an avid football fan and who remained loyal to San Lorenzo - the Argentine club he supports - throughout his papacy.
Many in Latin America say they saw him as one of their own, not just because he hailed from the region but also because of his humble background and his warm, approachable nature.
However, while the Catholic Church was at first invigorated by his election, it was not able to escape the trend in recent years which has seen some faithful in Latin America either turn away completely from religion or join evangelical Protestant churches instead.
