VATICAN SHAKEN / Pope Francis Passes Away, The Holy Father Dies at 88, One Day After Easter

Pope Francis, who was the Bishop of Rome and the head of the Catholic Church, passed away at the age of 88, the Vatican has announced.

The Pontiff became Pope in 2013 after his predecessor, Benedict XVI, resigned.

In recent years, his papacy was marked by several hospital visits and concerns about his health.

On February 14, the Pope was hospitalized for treatment of bronchitis.

In the following days, the Vatican announced that he had been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and had received blood transfusions after tests revealed low platelet levels in his blood, linked to anemia.

On February 22, it was revealed that the Pope was in critical condition after a "prolonged respiratory crisis" that required high-flow oxygen supply, and the next day, the Vatican stated that Francis had shown signs of "mild initial kidney failure."

In the days that followed, thousands of believers gathered in St. Peter's Square to pray for his recovery, while others went to the Roman hospital where he was staying to leave flowers and cards.

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On March 6, his voice was heard for the first time since his hospitalization in an audio message where he thanked those who wished him well, before adding, "I am with you from here."

On Sunday, he greeted the crowd during Easter Mass.

His 38-day stay in the hospital ended on March 23 when he made his first public appearance after five weeks from a balcony at the Gemelli Hospital, smiling and giving a "thumbs-up" to the gathered crowd below.

He returned to the Vatican, making a sudden stop at his favorite basilica on the way home, before starting two months of rest and recovery as prescribed by doctors.

Doctors said that Francis would have access to supplemental oxygen and 24-hour medical care as needed – adding that while the pneumonia infection had been successfully treated, he would continue taking oral medication for a fungal infection in his lungs and would continue respiratory and physical therapy.

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Born in 1936, Francis was the first pope from South America. His papacy was marked by support for those fleeing war and hunger, as well as for the poor, earning him the nickname "Pope of the People."

In 2016, he washed the feet of refugees from different faiths at an asylum center outside Rome in a "gesture of humility and service."

He also expressed his thoughts on a wide range of issues, from climate change to economic inequality and the role of women in the Catholic Church.

His acceptance of the LGBTQ community was unprecedented—starting with a surprising statement to journalists on a flight from Brazil about homosexual clergy.

He said: "If a person is homosexual and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge them?"

However, in April 2024, he seemed to reaffirm the Vatican's strong opposition to gender transition, surrogacy, abortion, and euthanasia by signing the text "Dignitas Infinita" (Infinite Dignity).

In the same year, his liberal credentials were questioned after it was reported that he had used a homophobic slur behind closed doors.

Pope's Health in Recent Years

As a young man in his native Argentina, Francis had part of his lung removed.

In the later years of his life, Francis needed a wheelchair or cane to move and limited public speaking due to difficulties with bronchitis and the flu.

Francis was first hospitalized as pope in 2021 for an operation to...

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