By: Isuru Parakrama
April 21, World (LNW): This morning, the Catholic world was plunged into mourning as the passing of Pope Francis was formally announced from the Vatican.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, delivered the news from the Casa Santa Marta at 9:45 AM, stating that the Bishop of Rome had died peacefully at 7:35 AM after a prolonged period of illness.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, known to the world as Pope Francis, passed away at the age of 88. Remembered as a deeply pastoral figure, his life was marked by unwavering commitment to the marginalised and a mission to reshape the Catholic Church in the image of compassion, humility, and reform.
His death, though long anticipated due to his fragile health, has left a profound void across religious and secular communities alike.
Pope Francis had been under medical care at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital since mid-February 2025, following a recurring battle with respiratory complications. His condition deteriorated in the days after his admission, with doctors confirming bilateral pneumonia by February 18.
Though he returned to the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery after 38 days in hospital, it became increasingly evident that his health was in sharp decline.
Health issues had accompanied him for most of his adult life. In 1957, as a young seminarian in Buenos Aires, Bergoglio underwent surgery to remove a portion of his lung damaged by infection.
In his later years, these early complications returned to haunt him, most notably in the form of frequent respiratory illnesses. In November 2023, he cancelled a high-profile visit to the United Arab Emirates due to lung inflammation and influenza.
The years that followed were marked by declining stamina, though his resolve remained steadfast.
Pope Francis’ papacy, which began in 2013, will be remembered as one of radical humility and outreach. He consistently redirected the Church’s focus toward service, particularly to the poor and vulnerable, emphasising mercy over judgement and dialogue over dogma.
His critics often challenged the pace of reform or his stance on certain issues, but few denied his profound moral clarity and personal integrity.
In a symbolic act that now bears deeper meaning, Pope Francis had personally approved a revised edition of the liturgical book governing papal funerals just a year prior, in April 2024.
This updated Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis reflects his desire for simplicity and spiritual focus, eschewing the traditional trappings of grandeur in favour of a ceremony rooted in faith and discipleship. His funeral, which is yet to be formally announced, is expected to honour these wishes.
Under the new funeral directives, the verification of death will occur in the chapel rather than the late Pope’s private quarters, and his body will be placed directly into the coffin without the previously required interval for public viewing.
According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, this change symbolises Pope Francis’ vision of the papacy as a ministry of service rather than an office of power.
Archbishop Ravelli noted, “This revised rite underscores that the burial of the Roman Pontiff is that of a shepherd and a follower of Christ, not that of a worldly dignitary.”
As bells tolled across Rome and flags were lowered, tributes poured in from around the world. Messages of sorrow, gratitude, and remembrance flowed not just from heads of state and fellow religious leaders, but also from the countless individuals who saw in Francis a rare and genuine spiritual father.
Whether speaking from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica or embracing the poor on the streets of Rome, he embodied the Gospel’s call to love without condition.
In life and now in death, Pope Francis has left behind a Church transformed—not in doctrine, perhaps, but in posture. He bent the Church’s ear closer to the cries of the forgotten and turned its gaze to the peripheries, where faith and suffering meet in their rawest forms.
His passing may mark the end of an era, but his example will endure—as both an invitation and a challenge to those who follow.
