Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has passed away at the age of 88. The Vatican confirmed that he died this morning on Easter Monday, 21 April 2025, at 7:35am local time. His death has shocked many people around the world, especially as he had appeared in public only yesterday for the Easter Sunday service.

The Vatican issued a statement on Youtube below:

The Pope was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days. Although he was discharged, his health unfortunately got worse over time. Pope Francis’ clinical situation gradually got worse, and his doctors diagnosed him bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18. Pope Francis had struggled with lung problems since he was young, when part of his lung was removed due to a severe infection in his early 20s.

The Pope had also recently been increasingly concerned about Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, saying “I express my closeness to the sufferings … of all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people.”

World leaders such as King Charles, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and US Senator JD Vance have also paid their respects. The Pope’s funeral will follow new guidelines that he personally approved in 2024.

He wanted the funeral to be simple, focused more on faith and the hereafter, rather than on worldly power or ceremony. His body will be taken to the chapel and then placed in the coffin straight away, following the new tradition. Archbishop Diego Ravelli said the funeral will reflect the Pope’s wishes to be remembered as a pastor and “not of a powerful person of this world.”

Following his death, Dr Wajid Akhter, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: “As Muslims, we deeply respect how Pope Francis extended his hand in genuine friendship to Muslims around the world: fostering dialogue and understanding between our faiths. His life exemplified the shared Abrahamic values of compassion, justice, and dignity for all God’s creation.”

Pope Francis will be remembered for his sincerity, his kindness, and his efforts to bring people of different religions and backgrounds closer together. His message of mercy, hope, and standing up for the weak touched the hearts of many. For people around the world, he was a leader who reminded the world that, above all, we are all human beings with a shared duty to care for one another.