logo
Pope Francis Made Final Appearance Hours Before His Death

Pope Francis Made Final Appearance Hours Before His Death

Yahoo21-04-2025

Originally appeared on E! Online
was a man of the people.
The 266th pope (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio) made one final appearance April 20 to commemorate Easter Sunday at the Vatican, hours before he died on the morning of April 21 at the age of 88.
Francis blessed an estimated crowd of over 35,000 people at St. Peter's Square, reciting the customary Urbi et Orbi blessing (Latin for "to the city and the world") after skipping Easter mass, which was delegated to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the Associated Press reported.
The Buenos Aires-born leader greeted the crowd by saying, "Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter," appearing on the balcony at St. Peter's Basilica for around 20 minutes before surprising those who had gathered for his planned appearance with a ride around the square in the popemobile.
The ride served as his first in the open-topped popemobile since his 38-day hospitalization for double pneumonia, and he made sure to occasionally stop to bless babies, according to the AP.
More from E! Online
Kentucky Gala Organizer Speaks Out After Auction Names Taylor Swift 2026 Tour Tickets
The Last of Us Kills Off Major Character in Shocking Season 2 Episode
Why Sister Wives' Kody Brown Worries About the State of His Marriage to Robyn Brown
During his final public appearance, per CNN reports, Francis had difficulty speaking for long periods and appeared not to be able to lift his arms. The microphone he spoke into and papers he read from during his Easter blessing were held by those around him.
The crowd's chants of "viva il papa!" (long live the pope) came hours after he'd briefly met with United States Vice President JD Vance, who was visiting Rome with his family.
"I know you have not been feeling great but it's good to see you in better health,' Vance told the pope, per AP. 'Thank you for seeing me."
The following morning, Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced to the world that His Holy Father had died in the wake of his health struggles.
"At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father," he said in a statement obtained by NBC News. "He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and the marginalized."
Following the news of his passing, leaders from around the world expressed their condolences, including King Charles III.
"My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis," Charles said on behalf of himself and Queen Camilla. "Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry."
"His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion," the king continued, "his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many."
The monarch finished by reflecting on his final meeting with Francis, which was less than two weeks prior on April 9.
"The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month," Charles shared. "We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ."
Keep reading for a look at Pope Francis' final public appearances...
(E! and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
February 2025February 2025March 2025April 2025April 2025

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

AP PHOTOS: BTS stars Jimin and Jung Kook discharged from military service
AP PHOTOS: BTS stars Jimin and Jung Kook discharged from military service

Yahoo

time16 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

AP PHOTOS: BTS stars Jimin and Jung Kook discharged from military service

YEONCHEON, South Korea (AP) — Hundreds of fans gathered Wednesday to catch a glimpse of K-pop superstars Jimin and Jung Kook, the latest and final members of BTS to be discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service. Supporters traveled from around the world to the public sports ground where the meet-and-greet took place. Color-wrapped buses bearing BTS members' faces lined the streets while red and yellow balloons floated above and a decorated food truck provided free coffee and water, adding to the festive atmosphere. A day earlier, RM and V each saluted upon their release in Chuncheon City as about 200 fans, some of whom traveled from Mexico, Turkey and Brazil, cheered. Jin, the oldest member of the K-pop supergroup, was discharged from the army in June 2024. J-Hope was discharged in October. The seventh member, Suga, is fulfilling his duty as a social service agent, an alternative to military service. The seven BTS members plan to reunite as a group sometime in 2025. Anaesi, a fan from Portugal, displayed a colorful tattoo featuring a golden shield emblazoned with 'ARMY,' along with BTS members' names in Korean. She said the group 'saved' her from depression. 'So for me BTS is my angel,' she said. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Rare Labubu sells for more than $150,000 at auction
Rare Labubu sells for more than $150,000 at auction

Yahoo

time19 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Rare Labubu sells for more than $150,000 at auction

A rare, first-generation Labubu figure has sold for $150,000 in Beijing at an auction held exclusively for the toys that have taken the world by storm. The 131-centimeter (51-inch) mint green figurine with a gremlin-like appearance, sharp teeth and puckish grin went for 1.08 million yuan ($150,325) at the Yongle International Auction house that normally specializes in selling jewelry and modern art. 'Congratulations to the online buyer on collecting the world's only such one,' said the auctioneer at an exhibition center in downtown Beijing on Tuesday afternoon. Labubus are currently the trendiest plush toys on the planet, created by Hong Kong-born illustrator Kasing Lung and retailed by the Chinese toy giant Pop Mart. In recent months, the bunny-bodied, elf-faced creatures — equal parts grotesque and adorable — have soared in popularity, sparking buying frenzies around the world, and in some cases, brawls among fans outside shops selling them. Even in China, where Pop Mart is based and most of its toys are made, people are struggling to get their hands on Labubus. A total of 48 Labubus were auctioned at the special event, billed as the 'World's First' auction of first generation collectible Labubus. A brown, 160-centimeter (63-inch) Labubu figure, sold for $114,086, the second highest hammer price at the event. The company said only 15 such figures exist around the world. Other figures went for more than $1,000 each. 'As a trendy toy in China, Labubu is now becoming a global artwork as it has truly sparked a craze around the world,' Zhao Xu, the founder of Yongle Auction, told state-owned outlet The Beijing News. Zhao said the company plans to hold monthly livestream auctions for Labubu and other trendy artworks. A pair of Minions-like Labubus sold at auction for 10,000 yuan ($1,391). Buyers at the auction also had to pay an additional 15% brokerage fee on top of the hammer prices. And it's not rare to see a price inflation of Labubus due to the crazy demand in China. For instance, a blind box from the latest Labubu 3.0 series, originally priced at around $81, has been selling for up to $278 on the second-hand market, state-owned outlet Cover News reported. Labubu's viral popularity has been a booster for Pop Mart. Annual results show that the Chinese company's global gross profit surged by over 125% last year, while its revenue in mainland China reached more than $1.09 billion, 34% higher than 2023.

Billy Ray Cyrus shares sweet message for Elizabeth Hurley on her birthday
Billy Ray Cyrus shares sweet message for Elizabeth Hurley on her birthday

Yahoo

time41 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Billy Ray Cyrus shares sweet message for Elizabeth Hurley on her birthday

Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley are in love. On Tuesday, Cyrus, 63, shared a sweet photo with Hurley on Instagram, wishing her a happy 60th birthday. "Happy birthday to the love of my life," he captioned the post. Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley make red carpet debut as a couple Cyrus also liked a photo Hurley shared on her own page Tuesday. "Happy birthday to me!" she wrote in the caption of the post, adding, "Feeling very blessed and grateful for having the best friends & family in the world ♥️." "Pic taken this afternoon… in my birthday suit xxx," she added. Cyrus replied in a comment, writing, "I love you ❤️." Cyrus' post comes weeks after the duo made their debut as a couple at the Orizzonti | Rosso Exhibition Opening Dinner at Palazzo Barberini in Rome. Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley share romantic Easter photo The duo first met while filming the 2022 movie "Christmas in Paradise." "We did very few scenes together, but the couple times we were in the same scene, there was a chemistry there," Cyrus said during an interview with Apple Music Country's "The Ty Bentli Show" in April. "We just laughed, and it was at a time I wasn't laughing a lot." He added, "The oddest part was, first, how much we laughed. Second, I figured we were so different, but in some very strange way, we had way more in common than we had different." Billy Ray Cyrus shares sweet message for Elizabeth Hurley on her birthday originally appeared on

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store