Easter Monday: Pope Francis Has Died

This isn’t unexpected:

“Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday aged 88”
Devin Watkins, Vatican News (April 21, 2025)

“At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words:

“‘Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of 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 the One and Triune God.’…”

He was ordained in 1969, Pope St. John Paul II made him a cardinal in 2001, he became pope in 2013. Two more milestones, and I’ll move on:¹

• Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Buenos Aires, Argentina (December 17, 1936)
• Died Pope Francis, Vatican City (April 21, 2025)

I’ll miss Pope Francis. Much as I like pomp and circumstance, I also liked the less-formal way he handled non-ceremonial aspects of his job as our Holy Father.

It’s about 10:20 a.m., here in central Minnesota. I learned that Pope Francis had died an hour or so ago. Like I said, it’s not unexpected. Even so, it’ll take time, getting used to the current situation.

There’s more to say about Pope Francis, popes in general, and vaguely-related topics:

• “Pope Francis, Prayer, Health, and Perspectives”
  (February 24, 2025)
• “Principles, Priorities, Politics: and Being Catholic”
  (September 21, 2024)
• “Swiss Guard: Their Finest Hour, So Far”
  (December 30, 2023)
• “Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI: 1927-2022”
  (December 31, 2022)
• “Infallibility?”
  (July 30, 2017)

¹ More about Pope Francis:

• Wikipedia
  • “Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday aged 88”
    Devin Watkins, Vatican News (April 21, 2025)
• Pope Francis In Memoriam
  December 17, 1936 — April 21, 2025
  265th Successor of St. Peter
  USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)