Pope Francis dies at 88 from stroke and heart failure, Vatican says: Live updates and reactions

Yahoo

21-04-2025

Pope Francis died of a cerebral stroke and irreversible heart failure, the Vatican's top doctor said Monday. Francis was 88.
The stroke led to a coma and "irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse," Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, the head of the Vatican's health department, said in a statement reported by multiple news outlets.
Francis died Monday at 7:35 a.m. at the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse at the Vatican where he lived.
In a statement, Arcangeli said Francis also suffered from episodes of respiratory insufficiency and had previously had bilateral pneumonia, as well as type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
Francis recently spent more than a month in the hospital with double pneumonia. But he emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless the thousands of people in St. Peter's Square and make a surprise popemobile ride through the piazza.
It was his last public appearance before his death.
Follow live updates on the death of Pope Francis in the blog below.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, will hold a mass for Pope Francis at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City on Tuesday at noon ET before departing for Rome, his office said in a press release.
'The cardinal will depart for Rome on Tuesday evening for the funeral of Pope Francis, and the subsequent conclave,' the release said.
Dolan is one of several American cardinals who will take part in the eventual conclave to elect his successor.
Speaking to reporters earlier Monday, Dolan said that Francis's death, coming on the day after he gave an Easter blessing at St. Peter's Square, couldn't have been "choreographed" any better.
'The way he lived and the way he died, he was a great teacher,' Dolan said.
Pope Francis is being remembered for many things, including his progressive outreach to the LGBTQ community.
In a lengthy statement, Francis DeBernardo, the executive director of New Ways Ministry, a ministry for LGBTQ Catholics, said Francis was a gift to that community.
"Francis was not only the first pope to use the word 'gay' when speaking about LGBTQ+ people, he was the first pope to speak lovingly and tenderly to them. His kind words of welcome to this community, traditionally marginalized in the church, rang loudly around the globe," DeBernardo said. "His recommendation to pastoral ministers and church leaders to accompany, listen, and dialogue with LGBTQ+ people has opened doors that had been sealed shut by the homophobia and transphobia of previous pontiffs."
GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis called Francis a "transformational leader."
"Having had the honor of meeting with Pope Francis twice, I witnessed first-hand his dedication to make a Church for all, not just some," she said in a statement. "His principles of empathetic listening, inclusion, and compassion are exactly what this divided world needs right now. When Pope Francis spoke out against the act of criminalizing LGBTQ people and when he famously spoke 'who am I to judge,' he created an example of unity that faith and civil leaders should follow.'
The group noted that in 2023, Francis approved blessings for same-sex couples and asserted that 'homosexuality is not a crime,' calling laws that criminalize same-sex relationships 'unjust.'
The Vatican on Monday released Pope Francis's will, dated June 29, 2022, in which he stated that he wants to be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome — not at St. Peter's, where most popes are buried. The Basilica of St. Mary Major is home to Francis's favorite icon of the Virgin Mary, where he often prayed.
Francis also said in the will that his underground tomb must be "simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus.'
The Vatican's top doctor said that Pope Francis's death was caused by a stroke that put him in a coma and led to irreversible heart failure.
Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, the head of the Vatican's health department, announced the cause of death in a statement Monday. Arcangeli also said Francis suffered from "acute respiratory failure" related to his recent bout double pneumonia as well as type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
He died Monday at 7:35 a.m. in his apartment in Vatican City, Arcangeli confirmed.
Here's the full text of Arcangeli's statement:
DECLARATION OF DEATH OF HIS HOLINESS FRANCISI hereby certify that His Holiness Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) born in Buenos Aires (Argentina) on December 17, 1936, resident in Vatican City, Vatican citizen, died at 7:35 a.m. on 21/04/2025 in his apartment at the Domus Sanctae Marthae (Vatican City) from:- STROKE- COMA- IRREVERSIBLE CARDIOVASCULAR COLLAPSEIn a subject suffering from:- Previous episode of acute respiratory failure in the context of bilateral multimicrobial pneumonia- Multiple bronchiectasis- Arterial hypertension- Type II diabetesAscertainment of death was by electrocardio-anatomical recording.I declare that the causes of death to the best of my knowledge and belief are as stated above.Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of Vatican City StateProfessor Andrea Arcangeli
At sunset, hundreds of people gathered inside St. Peter's Square to participate in a rosary prayer for Pope Francis — the Vatican's first public commemoration following the pope's death.
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, opened the ceremony by repeating one of Francis' trademark phrases, 'Do not forget to pray for me,' according to the New York Times.
'Tonight,' Gambetti said, 'we want to pray for him.'
A highlight of Pope Francis's legacy is when he kissed 1-year-old Gianna Masciantonio on the head while visiting Philadelphia in September 2015.
At just a month old, Gianna had been diagnosed with histiocytosis, a rare blood disorder that caused lesions on her brain stem, which doctors considered inoperable. Gianna's parents, Joey and Kristen Masciantonio, wanted the pope to bless her and the family — and had no idea he would actually kiss their daughter's head.
"We just thought we'd see him drive by," Joey told Philadelphia news outlet WTXF. "We never thought in a million years that he would bless our daughter."
Kristen said that Gianna's first brain scan after the pope's kiss showed "her tumor is almost undetectable." Yahoo News reported in 2018 that Gianna had been treated and was in recovery, with plans to start preschool.
Local outlet Philly Burbs shared this morning that Gianna is now 10 years old.
Speaking at the White House Easter Egg Roll, President Trump said he had just ordered U.S. flags to be lowered in memory of Pope Francis.
"I just signed an executive order putting the flags of our country, all of them, all federal flags and state flags, at half-mast in honor of Pope Francis," he said. "He was a good man, worked hard. He loved the world, and it's an honor to do that."
Speaking to reporters earlier, Trump said he didn't know whether he would attend Francis's funeral, saying it depends on the timing.
'He's a very good man who loved the world," Trump added. "And he especially loved people that were having a hard time. And that's good with me.'
In Argentina, where Pope Francis was born, millions have been mourning his death.
That includes Argentine President Javier Milei, a far-right libertarian who during his 2023 campaign for president called Francis an "imbecile" for defending social justice, even equating him with the devil.
But as NPR noted, Milei "softened his tone" after the election, apologizing and even visiting Francis at the Vatican.
"It is with profound sorrow that I learned this sad morning that Pope Francis, Jorge Bergoglio, passed away today and is now resting in peace," Milei wrote on X, referring to Francis by his birth name. "Despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his goodness and wisdom was a true honor for me. I bid farewell to the Holy Father and stand with all of us who are today dealing with this sad news."
Elsewhere in Argentina, the statements of grief were unequivocal. In Francis's hometown of Buenos Aires, Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva called him "the pope of everyone."
"We've lost the father of us all, the father of all humanity, who insisted time and again that the Church must have room for everyone," he said at the start of Monday's service, according to a translation of the Buenos Aires Times.
The pope's favorite soccer club, the San Lorenzo Saints of Buenos Aires, wrote "Goodbye, Holy Father" on its website.
"He was always one of us," the club said on Instagram.
World leaders and other prominent figures are paying tribute to Pope Francis, who died Monday at 88. Here are some of the more notable reactions, from Donald Trump to Volodymyr Zelensky:
President Trump: "Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!"
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: "I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice, his teachings, which never ceased, not even during times of trial and suffering."
French President Emmanuel Macron: "Throughout his pontificate Pope Francis had always sided with the most vulnerable and the most fragile, and he did this with a lot of humility," Macron said. "In this time of war and brutality, he had a sense for the other, for the most fragile."
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres: "Pope Francis was a transcendent voice for peace, human dignity and social justice. He leaves behind a legacy of faith, service and compassion for all — especially those left on the margins of life or trapped by the horrors of conflict."
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva: "Humanity is today losing a voice of respect and welcome for others. Pope Francis lived and propagated in his daily life the love, tolerance and solidarity that are the basis of Christian teachings."
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: "Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer: "I join millions around the world in grieving the death of His Holiness Pope Francis. His leadership in a complex and challenging time for the world and the church was courageous, yet always came from a place of deep humility."
Britain's King Charles: "His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, 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."
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz: "With the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church and the world lose an advocate for the weak, a reconciling and a warm-hearted person."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: "He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support."
The canonization of the first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis, has been postponed because of Pope Francis's death, the Vatican announced. Acutis was scheduled to be canonized next Sunday in St. Peter's Square.
"Following the death of Supreme Pontiff Francis, notice is hereby given that the Eucharistic celebration and Rite of Canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, scheduled for April 27, 2025, II Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy, on the occasion of the Jubilee of Adolescents, is suspended," the Holy See Press Office said in a statement on Monday.
Canonization is the process by which a deceased person is declared an official saint. The new date for Acutis's canonization has not been announced.
Acutis's canonization process started in 2013, seven years after he died at the age of 15 after dealing with leukemia. The teenager was declared "blessed" in 2020 after he was credited with miraculously helping heal a Brazilian child with a rare pancreatic condition.
After a pope dies, there are always "papabile" — or frontrunners among the possible successors. But following Francis's death, there is no clear frontrunner. Here's a look at possible successors, according to the Associated Press.
Cardinal Luis Tagle, 67, a Filipino prelate
Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, an American Catholic who serves as president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian bishops' conference
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, Francis's secretary of state
Cardinal Reinhard Marx, 71, archbishop of Munich and Freising
Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72, archbishop of Budapest and primate of Hungary
Cardinal Robert Sarah, 79, retired head of the Vatican's liturgy office
Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, 80, archbishop of Vienna
Cardinal Marc Ouellet, 80, former archbishop of Quebec and primate of Canada
Read more about each cardinal from the AP: Which cardinals are seen as contenders to be the next pope?
President Trump has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff "as a mark of respect for the memory" of Pope Francis.
The order applies to 'all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment,' Trump wrote in a proclamation.
This includes 'United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.'
After the death of a pope, the Vatican will follow a series of rituals outlined by the constitution known as Universi Dominici Gregis (Of the Lord's Whole Flock).
Traditionally, there is a mourning period of 15 days before a conclave to choose the next pope can begin, but Pope Benedict modified this rule in 2013 to allow cardinals to either start earlier or delay it to a maximum of 20 days after the pope's death. The conclave meetings require cardinals to vote on candidates who could become the next pope.
Right now, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo who announced Francis's death, will oversee any decisions that affect global Roman Catholic Church members. The heads of most of the Vatican departments will step down and resign until they are either confirmed by the next pope to hold their positions or replaced.
Cardinals from around the world will now travel to Rome and join in daily meetings — known as general congregations — to discuss what they are looking for in the next appointed pope. Any cardinals who are 80 years of age or older can attend these general meetings, but they are not part of the conclave.
Around 120 cardinals will vote twice a day in these conclave meetings — except for the first conclave, in which they only vote once — and are not allowed to communicate with the outside world. A two-thirds majority is needed for a candidate to be elected pope, and it must happen within 13 days of conclave voting.
After the conclave has elected a pope, the candidate will be asked whether he accepts the position and what name he wants. If he rejects the position, the voting process starts all over again.
The world will know when a new pope is elected when the paper ballots are burned with special chemicals that make white smoke come out of the chapel's chimney.
Pope Francis spent 38 days in the hospital earlier this year for a bout of severe bronchitis that developed into double pneumonia. Dr. Sergio Alfieri, who treated him, later said he didn't think he'd make it out of the hospital, after a severe respiratory crisis on Feb. 28, during which the pope inhaled vomit.
"He might not survive the night," Alfieri recalled in an interview with Corriere della Sera last month. "We needed to choose whether to stop and let him go, or to push it and attempt with all of the possible drugs and the treatments, taking the very high risk of damaging other organs. In the end, that is the path we chose.'
When Francis was finally discharged, Alfieri ordered the pope to rest for at least two months and to avoid crowds.
After visiting with him three days after his release, Alfieri told reporters that Francis had shown "truly surprising improvement" and appeared "very lively."
'I believe that he will return if not to 100%, 90% of where he was before," Alfieri said at the time.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton highlighted an excerpt from Pope Francis's last public address in a post on X.
"In Pope Francis's last public address, he preached care of the marginalized, the vulnerable, and migrants, saying: 'I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves.' May we heed his wish," Clinton wrote.
Before his death, Pope Francis had requested several changes to his funeral proceedings.
The funeral Mass for Francis is still expected to be held in St. Peter's Square, as has been the case for many of his predecessors. But in 2013, Francis asked to be buried in Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major , not at St. Peter's Basilica or its grottoes, where most popes are buried, according to the Associated Press. He said he wants to be laid to rest near his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary, called the Salus Populi Romani.
According to Reuters, Francis also asked to be buried in a simple wooden casket, "unlike predecessors who were buried in three interlocking caskets made of cypress, lead and oak."
And he asked that his body not be put on display atop a raised platform in St. Peter's Basilica for visitors in Rome to view, as was the case with previous popes.
The burial will be followed by nine days of official mourning, known as the 'novemdiales,' before the conclave to select the next pope begins.
Pope Francis will be placed in his coffin around 8 p.m. local time, or 2 p.m. ET, in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, an announcement from the Vatican states.
Francis's lying in state at St. Peter's Basilica could begin on Wednesday.
'The transfer of the body of the Holy Father to the Vatican Basilica for the homage of all the faithful could take place on Wednesday morning,' Matteo Bruni, the director of the Vatican press office, told CNN.
The death of Pope Francis was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, on Monday morning.
The camerlengo — or chamberlain — serves as the acting head of the Vatican between the death or resignation of a pope and the appointment of the next leader of the Catholic Church.
This period is known as sede vacante, which is Latin for "empty seat."
Farrell was formerly the bishop of the Diocese of Dallas until 2016, when Francis appointed him to serve in the Roman Curia, elevating him to the position of cardinal.
In 2019, he was named camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.
Former President Barack Obama reacted to the news of the pope's death in a post on X, calling Francis "the rare leader who made us want to be better people."
"In his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound — embracing the sick, ministering to the homeless, washing the feet of young prisoners — he shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another," Obama continued.
The post included a photo of Obama shaking hands with Francis in the Oval Office.
Speaking from St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, Cardinal Timothy Dolan said Pope Francis's death — coming on the day after his last public appearance on Easter Sunday — could not have been "choreographed" better.
"We can never choreograph our own birth or death, that's always in God's hands," Dolan said. "But if you could choreograph it, you couldn't choreograph it any better."
Dolan is one of several American cardinals eligible to vote in the papal conclave to elect the next pope.