Pope Francis Dead at 88: The Catholic Church’s Greatest Leader Is Gone

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The Catholic Church has lost its leader.

Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio) died on April 21 at age 88, the Vatican confirmed.

This morning at 7:35, as Cardinal Kevin Farrell stated, Pope Francis, the Bishop of Rome, made his way back to the residence of the Father. He consistently showed us how to embody the teachings of the Bible with loyalty, bravery, and unbounded love – a lesson particularly relevant for those who are impoverished or overlooked in society. (Obtained by NBC News)

Two months have passed since he was hospitalized due to persistent respiratory issues. The Pope initially sought treatment at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome on Valentine’s Day for bronchitis symptoms, but it was subsequently discovered that he had pneumonia in both lungs.

As a lifestyle expert, I would say: My recent health assessments, including chest X-rays and physical examinations, have painted a rather intricate picture. The lab results indicate a multi-bacterial infection in my respiratory system and the onset of bilateral pneumonia, which necessitates additional medication therapy to manage it effectively.

On February 22nd, the Vatican announced that further examinations revealed “low platelet count accompanied by anemia, necessitating blood transfusions” during Pope Francis’ critical health situation.

Despite the circumstances, the Pope maintained an upbeat disposition. In a statement on February 23rd, he shared, “I’ve been touched by the numerous messages of affection I’ve received, particularly the letters and drawings from children.” He went on to express his gratitude for the warmth and prayers he has felt from all corners of the globe.

Francis had previously encountered pneumonia, as he underwent surgery to remove part of his lung back in the 1950s due to a severe bout of pneumonia he contracted during his childhood years in Buenos Aires.

Ten years following his harrowing ordeal, Francis was ordained as a priest in the year 1969. He assumed the role of archbishop for the Argentine capital in 1998, and it was Pope John Paul II who conferred upon him the title of cardinal in 2001.

In the year 2013, Francis was appointed as the leader of the Catholic Church, as Pope Benedict XVI stepped down from his position due to health concerns. (Notably, Benedict, who became the first pope to retire since 1415, passed away in 2022 at the age of 95.)

 

Despite facing numerous health challenges, Francis persisted in carrying out his papal responsibilities until his passing. In his words from 2023, he expressed that a pope stepping down should not become commonplace or trendy.

In a meeting summary published by Father Antonio Spadaro in La Stampa newspaper, as reported by Reuters, he stated that the papal ministry should be a lifelong commitment. He added that he didn’t understand why it shouldn’t be this way, stressing the importance of upholding tradition. Dismissing speculations about his retirement, Pope Francis noted that if we were to act on gossip, we would need to change popes every six months.

As per custom, a gathering known as a conclave will take place to decide who will replace Francis upon his passing. If the cardinals fail to achieve a two-thirds majority vote for the new pope, smoke darkened by charcoal will be emitted from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney, signifying that a decision has not yet been made.

Once a candidate has garnered sufficient votes and chosen his papal title, smoke coming from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney will change to white.

 

During his papacy, Pope Francis made history by achieving numerous firsts. He was groundbreaking in adapting to the digital era, becoming the first pontiff to have an Instagram account, and also the first to write an op-ed piece for The New York Times.

He was particularly accepting of the LGBTQ+ community compared to his past leaders, most notably stating to journalists in 2013, “Should anyone question their orientation and seek spiritual guidance with kindness, I see no place for judgment on my part.

As a committed adherent of the Catholic faith, I continue to uphold the longstanding belief in heterosexual marriage. However, I’ve openly expressed my advocacy for granting legal rights to same-sex unions.

In the same interview for the 2020 documentary “Francesco“, Francis suggested that we need to establish a law for civil unions. This would provide them with legal protection.

Toward the end of his life, Francis struggled with several health issues. In 2021, he underwent surgery to remove a portion of his colon because of diverticulitis, which is inflammation in the digestive system.

The next year, Francis developed problems with his knee that eventually required surgery and the use of a wheelchair due to these difficulties.

Or, alternatively,

In the following year, Francis faced troubles with his knee which led him to undergo surgery and rely on a wheelchair for mobility.

2023 saw the spiritual leader being admitted to the hospital due to a respiratory illness. During this time, he underwent surgery to eliminate scar tissue in his intestines and also had a hernia repaired.

In early 2025, Francis sustained an injury to his right arm after falling. Fortunately, no bones were broken, but due to medical advice from the Vatican, they decided to immobilize his arm in a sling as a precautionary step.

 

Towards the end of his life, Francis encountered several health issues, including a condition called diverticulitis that affected his digestive system. In the year 2021, he underwent surgery to have a section of his colon extracted as part of his treatment for this issue.

The next year, Francis encountered problems with his knee that required surgery and the use of a wheelchair due to these complications.

2023 saw the spiritual leader being admitted to the hospital due to a respiratory illness. During his stay, he underwent a surgery to eliminate intestinal scar tissue and also had a hernia repaired.

In early 2025, Francis suffered an accidental fall that resulted in an injury to his right arm. Even though no bones were broken, medical professionals at the Vatican decided to immobilize his arm using a sling as a safety precaution.

 

In a meeting summary published by Father Antonio Spadaro in the Spanish newspaper La Stampa, as reported by Reuters, he stated that he feels the papal role should be permanent. He questions why it shouldn’t be this way, stressing its historical precedent. Speaking about retirement rumors at the time, Pope Francis humorously suggested that if they were to act on unsubstantiated gossip, they would need to change popes every half a year.

According to custom, a meeting known as a conclave will take place after Francis’ passing, in order to decide who will become his successor. If the cardinals fail to achieve a two-thirds majority vote on the new pope, smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney will signify that a decision has not yet been made.

When a candidate secures sufficient votes and selects his papal title, smoke coming from the Sistine Chapel will change to white.

Despite enduring numerous health challenges, Pope Francis persisted in fulfilling his papal responsibilities until his passing. In his words from the year 2023, he emphasized that stepping down should not be considered a trend or common practice for a pope.

In a meeting minutes published by Father Antonio Spadaro in the Spanish newspaper La Stampa, as reported by Reuters, he expressed his view that the role of the papal ministry should be lifelong. He further stated that he could not think of a reason why it shouldn’t be this way, referencing historical tradition. In response to speculations about his retirement at the time, Pope Francis humorously suggested that if we were to act on gossip, we would need to change popes every six months.

As a longstanding custom, a gathering known as a conclave will take place to decide who will replace Francis upon his passing. If the cardinals are unable to reach a two-thirds consensus on the next pope, smoke darkened by charcoal will be emitted from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney, signifying that a decision has yet to be made.

After a candidate secures the required number of votes and chooses his papal title, the smoke coming from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney will change to white.

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2025-04-21 11:47