Pope Francis passed away after prolonged illness in Rome on Monday, the Vatican confirmed in a video statement. He was 88. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” announced Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo.
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for 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 God, One and Triune,’’ added Cardinal Ferrell.
Francis was the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church, and was elected as the supreme pontiff on March 13, 2013, ending an often turbulent reign marked by division and tension as he sought to overhaul the hidebound institution.
His passing away comes just a day after his surprise public appearance on Easter Sunday, greeting a crowd of more than 35,000 in St. Peter’s Square. This marked his most significant outing since recovering from a severe case of double pneumonia.
In his 12 years of papacy, he had suffered various ailments, and underwent respiratory therapy during his recent illness.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, he was one of the five children of Italian immigrants — Mario, who worked as an accountant for the railways, and Regina Sivori. After graduating as a chemical technician, he decided to pursue the priesthood and entered the Diocesan Seminary of Villa Devoto. On March 11, 1958, he joined the novitiate of the Society of Jesus.
The death of a sitting pope initiates a profound period of mourning and transition within the Roman Catholic Church, marked by time-honoured rituals and a meticulously structured process to elect a new pontiff.
Earlier, Francis has said that he has written a letter of resignation that would be invoked if he were medically incapable of making the decision regarding a new pontiff, according to AP.
How is the new pope chosen?
The Roman Catholic Church has an elaborate procedure for choosing a new pope after the old one dies. When a pope dies or resigns, the Church enters a period known as “sede vacante” (“empty seat” or “vacant see”), as per Reuters. This is when the throne of St Peter is unoccupied.
This period typically lasts for several weeks, during which the late pope’s body lies in state, his funeral takes place, and cardinals prepare for the conclave, the private gathering to choose a new pope.
According to the rules, the conclave must begin between 15 and 20 days after the sede vacante begins.
