Vatican City, Vatican — Pope Francis don pass away for Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at age 88 for his residence at Casa Santa Marta. At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, wey be Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announce di news with heavy heart. He talk say, “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, di Bishop of Rome, Francis, return to di house of di Father. Him life na true service to di Lord and Him Church. Him teach us how to live di values of di Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially for di poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of di Lord Jesus, we commend di soul of Pope Francis to di infinite merciful love of di One and Triune God.”
Before him death, Pope Francis don dey struggle with health wahala. He enter Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital for February 14, 2025, after him face serious bronchitis. Di situation for him health worsen, and on February 18, doctors diagnose am with bilateral pneumonia. After 38 days for hospital, di late Pope return to him Vatican home to continue recovery.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, wey later become Pope Francis, don face respiratory issues since him dey young. For 1957, him undergo surgery for Argentina to remove part of him lung due to severe infection. E don struggle with health issues as him dey get older, including cancelling planned visit to United Arab Emirates for November 2023 because of influenza and lung inflammation.
In April 2024, Pope Francis don approve new edition of di liturgical book for papal funeral rites. Dis new edition go guide di funeral Mass, wey still dey wait for announcement. Di second edition of di Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis get plenty new things, including how dem go handle di Pope’s body after him die. According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, wey be Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, di late Pope Francis don request say dem need to simplify di funeral rites, focus am on di faith of di Church in di Risen Body of Christ. “Di renewed rite,” Archbishop Ravelli talk, “go emphasize say di funeral of di Roman Pontiff na for pastor and disciple of Christ and no be for powerful person for dis world.”
