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Pope Francis, the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican has announced while Nigeria mourns the Pontiff on Easter Monday.
According to the Vatican News Service, the pontiff passed away peacefully at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, within the Vatican City, where he had lived since his election in 2013.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell, paying tribute to the late Pope, who was widely regarded as a reformer and a spiritual shepherd to over a billion Catholics around the world.
The news of his death has sparked a global outpouring of tributes. French President Emmanuel Macron described him as “a man of humility,” while Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof called him “a role model for Catholics and non-Catholics alike.”
Remarkably, Pope Francis made a public appearance less than 24 hours before his passing. On Easter Sunday, he was seen in a wheelchair, waving from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square. In what would be his final public message, he offered a warm greeting: “Dear brothers and sisters, happy Easter.”
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, became the first Jesuit and first Latin American pope. His papacy was marked by a focus on compassion, social justice, environmental stewardship, and outreach to marginalized communities.
Details about funeral arrangements and the next steps for the Catholic Church will be announced by the Vatican in the coming days.
