Overview
- Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, died at age 88 on Easter Monday at 7:35 a.m. after battling pneumonia.
- In his final public address on Easter Sunday, he called for renewed hope, care for the marginalized, and trust in others, including those different from ourselves.
- World leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Joe Biden, praised his humility and efforts to uplift the poor and vulnerable.
- Celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg, Antonio Banderas, and Patti Smith honored his compassion, with Goldberg likening him to Pope John XXIII for his embodiment of Christ’s love.
- The Vatican has entered a nine-day mourning period, during which preparations will be made for the conclave to elect his successor, with many of the cardinals being Francis’s appointees.