Pope Francis time as head of the Catholic Church has come to an end after he passed away at age 88.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell said on Monday.
Francis was hospitalized for just over five weeks starting in February to address what the Vatican initially said was a respiratory tract infection.
Four days after his hospitalization, the Vatican revealed that Francis had been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia.
Francis was released from the hospital and returned to the Vatican on March 23, where his physicians said he would require additional months of recovery.
Around two weeks after that announcement, he made his first public appearance since his discharge from the hospital. Sitting in a wheelchair and using oxygen, he greeted people in St. Peter’s Square.
Pope Francis made his final appearance on Easter Sunday from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, following an earlier meeting with Vice President JD Vance.
Pope Francis Passes Away After Stroke And Irreversible Heart Failure
88-year-old Pope Francis died Easter Monday following a lengthy bout of double pneumonia, the Vatican said.
Francis died of a stroke and irreversible heart failure, Vatican doctor Andrea Arcangeli said in a death certificate released Monday.
A funeral date has not been announced, but the Vatican said it would likely take place between Friday and Sunday.
The certificate stated the pope had fallen into a coma before his death early that day.
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said the pope’s body will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning “so that the faithful may pray before his mortal remains. “
