Pope Francis’ Final Heartfelt Appearance Before His Passing

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Pope Francis was a man of the people.

Pope Francis (formerly known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio), who was the 266th pope, had his final public appearance on Easter Sunday, April 20, at the Vatican. Just hours later, on the morning of April 21, he passed away at the age of 88.

Francis delivered the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing, usually given at St. Peter’s Square, to an estimated 35,000 people or more. This blessing is a Latin phrase meaning “to the city and the world.” Notably, he did not attend Easter mass this year; instead, Cardinal Angelo Comastri took charge of it, as reported by the Associated Press.

From Buenos Aires, Argentina, this respected leader warmly addressed the audience with “Happy Easter, my brothers and sisters,” as he made an appearance on St. Peter’s Basilica’s balcony for approximately 20 minutes. To everyone’s delight, instead of just standing there as planned, he decided to circle the square in a special vehicle known as the popemobile.

For the first time since his 38-day hospital stay due to double pneumonia, he took a ride in an open-topped vehicle similar to a popemobile. He frequently paused along the way to grant blessings to infants, as reported by the Associated Press.

During his last public event, as reported by CNN, Pope Francis seemed to struggle with prolonged speech and was unable to raise his arms. Others assisted him by holding the microphone he used for speaking and the papers he read during his Easter blessing.

Vocalizations of “hurrah for the Pope!” echoed through the air, occurring several hours following a brief encounter between him and U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who was touring Rome alongside his loved ones.

Vance expressed, “It’s nice to notice that you’re looking much better than before. I appreciate the chance to meet with you,” according to AP. “I’m grateful for your time.

On the ensuing daybreak, Cardinal Kevin Farrell declared worldwide that Pope (His Holiness) had passed away following his prolonged health issues.

OR

The next morning saw Cardinal Kevin Farrell announcing to the world that the Pope had succumbed to his ongoing health problems.

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In the light of dawn, Cardinal Kevin Farrell shared with the global community that His Holiness had perished due to his persistent health challenges.

This morning at 7:35, as reported by NBC News, Pope Francis, who is also known as the Bishop of Rome, came back to the house of the Father. In a statement, he encouraged us to embody the principles of the Gospel with steadfastness, bravery, and boundless love, particularly towards those who are less fortunate and on society’s fringes.

After hearing about his demise, leaders across the globe conveyed their sympathies, with King Charles III among them.

Charles expressed deep sorrow on behalf of himself and Queen Camilla upon hearing about Pope Francis’ passing. Although our hearts are heavy, they find some comfort knowing that His Holiness managed to extend an Easter Greeting to the Church and the world he faithfully served during his lifetime and ministry.

His Holiness will be honored for his kindness, as he was deeply dedicated to the Church’s unity and tirelessly advocated for causes that mattered to people of faith worldwide,” the king went on. “He strongly believed that taking care of our planet reflected one’s faith in God, a conviction that resonated with many globally. Through his actions and concern for both humanity and the environment, he deeply impacted countless lives.

The monarch concluded the discussion, looking back at his recent encounter with Francis, which had taken place only about fifteen days ago, specifically on April 9th.

Charles expressed that he and the Queen hold fond memories of their encounters with His Holiness throughout the years, especially our recent visit in the past few weeks. He conveyed his deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the Church he served so steadfastly, as well as to the multitude of people worldwide who will be grieving the tragic demise of this devout disciple of Jesus Christ.

Keep reading for a look at Pope Francis’ final public appearances…

In February, Pope Francis attended his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican.

Towards the end of that particular month, the Pope gave a sermon during a Jubilee service for Military, Police, and Security Workers held at St. Peter’s Square, while celebrating Mass.

Following over five weeks of hospitalization, the Pope delivered a message from the balcony of the Gemelli Hospital prior to his release.

On April 13, during the conclusion of Palm Sunday Mass, Pope Francis warmly welcomed cardinals in St. Peter’s Square, using a wheelchair as his means of mobility.

In the final hours prior to his demise, Pope Francis held a meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his entourage at the Casa Santa Marta within the confines of Vatican City, Vatican, on Easter Sunday.

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2025-04-21 15:19