The Pope’s death comes less than 24 hours after he made an appearance at the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday.A short while ago, His Eminence, Cardinal Farrell, announced the death of Pope Francis 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 (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.”
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.”
Farrell adds: “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 came out in a wheelchair and waved from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to cheering crowds, wishing those gathered a “happy Easter”.
His traditional Easter address and blessing was read by an aide while he sat, watching.
Following the blessing, Pope Francis was driven around the square. As he passed through the crowds, his procession paused a number of times as babies were brought over for him to bless.
Francis’s papacy heralded many firsts and, while he never stopped introducing reforms to the Catholic Church, he remained popular among traditionalists.
He was the first Pope to come from the Americas, or from the southern hemisphere. Not since Syrian-born Gregory III died in 741 had there been a non-European Bishop of Rome.
He was also the first Jesuit to be elected to the throne of St Peter – Jesuits were historically looked on with suspicion by Rome.
Francis’s predecessor, Benedict XVI, was the first Pope to retire voluntarily in almost 600 years and for almost a decade the Vatican Gardens hosted two popes.
As Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina, he was already in his seventies when he became Pope in 2013.
Bergoglio was the son of Italian immigrants to Argentina. After studying in high school to become a chemical technician, he worked briefly in the food-processing industry but felt called to the church. When he was about 21 years old, he suffered a severe bout of pneumonia that led to the removal of part of his right lung. He entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1958 and then turned to academics, studying humanities in Santiago, Chile, and earning a licentiate (equivalent to a master’s degree) in philosophy in Buenos Aires province. After graduation he taught literature and psychology in high school while pursuing a degree in theology. He was ordained a priest in 1969, took his final vows in the Jesuit order in 1973, and subsequently served as superior (head) of the Jesuit province of Argentina (1973–79).
