• The world is in mourning following the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church, who died at 7:35 AM on Easter Monday at the age of 88. His death was formally announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, at Casa Santa Marta.

“With deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Farrell said. “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 fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized.”

Tributes have poured in from across the globe, reflecting the Pope’s profound influence on both spiritual and political spheres.

In the United States, Vice President J.D. Vance shared an emotional message on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the beautiful homily he gave in the early days of COVID. May God rest his soul.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid homage, expressing his grief and admiration. “Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility, and spiritual courage by millions across the world,” Modi stated. He also highlighted the Pope’s dedication to the poor and his inspiring commitment to inclusive development.

The White House released a solemn tribute accompanied by photos of the Pope meeting both President Donald Trump and Vice President Vance. The message read simply: “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis.”

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, made history as the first Jesuit Pope and the first from the Americas. Throughout his papacy, he championed the causes of the marginalized, challenged global leaders to act justly, and sought to make the Church more open and inclusive.

In recent years, Pope Francis was one of the few Western leaders to speak with unwavering moral clarity on humanitarian issues, including the ongoing crisis in the Levant. As global conflicts deepened, his voice became a rare beacon, denouncing violence and advocating for peace across religious and cultural lines.

As the Catholic world begins its mourning rituals, millions reflect on the legacy of a spiritual leader whose compassion and courage resonated far beyond the Vatican walls.

May his soul find eternal peace.