After suffering from various health issues over the past few years, including a month-long hospitalization from pneumonia and kidney failure in March, Pope Francis died of natural causes at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, at 07:35 CEST at his residence named Domus Sanctae Marthae.
The Pontiff’s exact cause of death, though not initially released by the Vatican, has since been confirmed to have been a combination of a stroke and cardiac arrest.
The Pope’s last words, spoken to his personal healthcare assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti, were of gratitude and thanks for her care and kindness. His last written statement reads, “May the Lord grant a fitting reward to all those who have loved me and who continue to pray for me. The suffering that has marked the final part of my life, I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and for fraternity among peoples.”
Currently lying in state in St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pope will be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore after a funeral procession on Saturday. He will be the first Pope to be buried outside the Vatican since Pope Leo XI in 1903.
Pope Francis’s death immediately follows this year’s Vatican Easter commemoration services, during which he made his last public appearance in St. Peter’s Square, where he conferred his last Papal blessing, and has occurred during a time of usual feasting and celebration among Catholics. The Pope’s death prompted a papal interregnum, a period of time when the Papacy is vacant, and the novemdiales, a nine-day period of mourning. The Vatican’s post-Easter celebrations and rituals, though still taking place, have been significantly toned down to reflect the Pope’s death.
Various world leaders have since reflected on Pope Francis’s death and have sent their condolences to the Vatican. President Trump ordered for all federal and state flags to be lowered to half-mast on April 21st in memory of the deceased Pontiff and wrote on Truth Social, “Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!” Trump has since clarified that he and First Lady Melanie Trump will attend the Pope’s funeral on Saturday.
King Charles III of the United Kingdom ordered for the flying of the Union Jack at half-mast at all government and royal buildings and commented that he and ‘Queen Camilla have heavy hearts’. The Prince of Wales has been nominated as his representative at the funeral, and will join a wide range of European royalty and leaders in attendance, including German Chancellor Olaf Sholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, King Philipe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni, and King Felipe VI and Queen Letzia of Spain.
Vladimir Putin of Russia will not attend due to an ongoing arrest warrant of the latter by the International Criminal Court. Other prominent leaders not in attendance will be the King and Queen of the Netherlands and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
