Overview

• Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, at 7:35 am in Vatican City due to a cerebral stroke and cardiocirculatory failure, as confirmed by the Vatican.
• Cardinal Kevin Farrell, as camerlengo, has assumed responsibility for managing the sede vacante until a new pope is elected in the upcoming conclave.
• Global leaders, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, praised Francis’s dedication to peace, social justice, and the poor in their condolences.
• The Generalitat of Catalonia and other institutions have declared official mourning periods, with flags at half-mast and church bells tolling in honor of the late pontiff.
• Francis, the first Jesuit and Latin American pope, leaves behind a historic 12-year papacy focused on reform, environmental stewardship, and outreach to the marginalized.