Pope Francis, the first pope from Latin America, passed away on April 21, Easter Monday. He was 88 years young when he died. He had a stroke and heart failure and died at his Vatican residence. This sad news came just six days after he preached his Easter Sunday Urbi et Orbi blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. His death makes this an equally significant moment for the Catholic Church. At the same time, he was the spiritual guide for some 1.4 billion Catholics around the globe.
In recent months, Pope Francis fought significant health challenges. Then it turned into a bad case of double pneumonia that put him in the hospital for weeks. Despite his struggles, he remained engaged with his followers, showcasing his resilience up until the end. The funeral service was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) in St. Peter’s Square. He had guided the Catholic Church from this very chair for almost a decade since his election in 2013.
Since midday Wednesday, Pope Francis’ remains have been on view at St. Peter’s Basilica. Thousands of pilgrims have made the pilgrimage there to pay their respects. The Vatican has already confirmed that the bulk of his funeral service will take place in this stunning venue. Later, his body will be carried across the River Tiber to lie in a sarcophagus at Rome’s Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. This would make him the first pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican.
When Pope Francis died, his hometown Argentine football club San Lorenzo honored him. He promoted and defended the club while living. “Always one of us,” they wrote, underscoring their historical ties to the pope. In another poignant message, they expressed their sentiments saying, “Goodbye, thank you… we will be together for eternity.”
