This morning, news spread across the globe about the death of Pope Francis. On Easter Monday, the Vatican shared the heartbreaking announcement of the Pope’s passing.
Many people had traveled to Rome to celebrate Easter at the Vatican, and a large number of them were present on Sunday when the Pope made his final public appearance.
Keep reading to learn more.
On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis made a brief appearance at St. Peter’s Square to celebrate the special day. Due to his recent health issues from a tough fight with double pneumonia, a high-ranking cardinal led the Mass instead.
Cardinal Angelo Comastri conducted the service in front of tens of thousands of Catholic followers. Pope Francis appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he wished everyone a “Happy Easter” and offered his blessings to the crowd.
Typically, the Pope gives a traditional message called “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and the World”), but this year, it was delivered by a Vatican archbishop since the Pope was in a wheelchair.
In his address, the Pope discussed several important issues, leaving a strong message behind. He spoke about the increasing antisemitism around the globe and condemned the terrible situation in Gaza, urging for a ceasefire.
“I think of the people of Gaza, especially its Christian community, where the ongoing conflict continues to bring death and destruction, creating a dire humanitarian crisis,” he stated in what would be his final Easter message.
The address also highlighted the importance of religious freedom and respecting different opinions, stressing that peace cannot exist without these values.
“There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and respect for the views of others,” the message stated. After the address, the Pope was driven around the crowd in an open-top vehicle.
The pope passed away at the age of 88. He had been frequently hospitalized for some time. Four weeks ago, he left Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after spending a month there.
Even after his discharge, doctors recommended that he take more time to recover from a serious illness he had been fighting.
Because of his poor health, the pope missed most of the Holy Week events for the first time since becoming pope in 2013. This included the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum on Friday and the Easter vigil at Saint Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, where he asked cardinals to take over his responsibilities.
He also skipped the foot-washing ceremony on Thursday, which symbolizes Jesus Christ washing the feet of his disciples.
However, on Saturday, he did make a short appearance to greet visitors.
Pope Francis leaves behind a remarkable and lasting legacy. He will be remembered for many years as a person of strong values and deep faith.
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