Pope Francis dies aged 88
Pope Francis has died at the age of 88. In a short statement this morning, the Vatican said: "Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta." Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell added: “At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. “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 God, One and Tribune.″ Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, Pope Francis was the first man from South America to hold the holy office, the first from the southern hemisphere, and the first non-European since the 8th Century. He was elected Pope on March 13, 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis has been praised throughout his time for his more liberal views on the LGBTQ+ community, his international visibility, his opposition to the rise of the far-right, and his commitment to the Catholic Church taking action against climate change. Pope Francis visited Ireland in 2018 - the first Papal visit since John Paul II came over in 1979. While here, he condemned the long history of sex abuse by Catholic clergy in Ireland and in the United States during a speech at Dublin Castle. He attended the Festival of Families in a full Croke Park, and said Mass to over 150,000 people at the Papal Cross in the Phoenix Park, as well as addressing 45,000 people in Knock. Pope Francis also spent three months in Dublin in 1980, studying English at the Jesuit-run Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy, which closed in 2015. Pope Francis was inspired to join the Jesuit Order in 1958 after recovering from a severe illness. He was made a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001, and was considered a chief critic and rival of the Kirchner administration in Argentina in the 2000s. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
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