(4-21-25) 88 year old Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome and supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church died this morning.

Vatican camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced-

“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. 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.

He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936 to Italian immigrant parents in Argentina, Francis made history as the first pope from the Americas — as well as the first Jesuit to hold the office.  

He was elected pope in 2013 after the almost unprecedented retirement of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. 

The Church will now enter a nine-day mourning period before a new pontiff is chosen by the College of Cardinals in a secretive election in the Sistine Chapel known as a conclave.