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Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced Monday. The pontiff passed away from stroke and heart failure, according to Vatican physician Dr.
Andrea Arcangeli, who also noted the Pope suffered from respiratory issues, bilateral pneumonia, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. The news comes just a day after Easter celebrations, where the Pope delivered his final “Urbi et Orbi” message to the city and the world.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced the Pope’s passing, which has brought mourning to 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. The Cardinal praised Pope Francis’s life of service to the Lord and the Church, highlighting his commitment to Gospel values and his unwavering love for the poor and marginalized.
In a decree dated June 29, 2022, Pope Francis requested a simple burial in an underground tomb at St. Mary Major Basilica, home to his beloved icon of the Virgin Mary.
The tomb is to bear only the inscription “Franciscus.” Within the decree, he expressed gratitude for prayers offered and requested continued prayers.
He concluded by offering his late-life suffering to the Lord “for world peace and brotherhood among peoples.”
Concerns regarding the Pope’s health arose earlier this year when he was admitted to Gemelli Hospital in February for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. This 38-day stay marked the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.