Pope Francis Dies; Funeral Set in Rome

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires in 1936, died at age 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, after a prolonged respiratory illness. He was the first Latin American and first Jesuit pope, admired globally for his humility, advocacy for the marginalized, and efforts to reshape the Catholic Church's priorities. His papacy was marked by compassion, including outreach to the poor, championing refugees, environmental advocacy, dialogue with LGBTQ individuals, and apologies for clerical abuse. Francis maintained a modest lifestyle and was widely regarded as a model of mercy and hope. Following his death, the Vatican began traditional mourning rites, with his funeral planned at Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he wished to be buried. World leaders paid tribute to his legacy of radical compassion and transformative impact.