Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, the Vatican has confirmed. He passed away at his residence in the Casa Santa Marta within Vatican City, according to the Vatican News Service.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in tribute.
His death comes just a day after he appeared in St Peter’s Square to wish “Happy Easter” to thousands of worshippers.
According to BBC News, Vatican officials said the Pope had been in declining health in recent months but continued to carry out limited public duties.
His final public appearance, marked by a brief Easter message, showed him visibly frail yet determined to connect with the faithful.
Traditionally, papal funerals have been grand, ritual-heavy events, but Pope Francis had approved significant changes in recent years to simplify the proceedings.
While previous popes were buried in three nested coffins—cypress, lead, and oak—Francis chose a more modest route: a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc.
He also discarded the tradition of placing the Pope’s body on a raised platform, or catafalque, in St Peter’s Basilica for public viewing. Instead, mourners will be invited to pay their respects while his body lies inside the coffin with the lid removed.
In another historic break with tradition, Francis will become the first Pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican. He will be laid to rest in the Basilica of St Mary Major, one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome.
The BBC notes that Francis, the first pope from Latin America and the first Jesuit to hold the position, leaves behind a complex legacy—defined by his efforts to reform the Vatican bureaucracy, his outspoken advocacy on climate change, and a compassionate, pastoral approach to modern social issues.
– Additional reporting by BBC News
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