Pope Francis newest: Catholic chief died of a stroke and irreversible coronary heart failure, Vatican confirms

Pope Francis dies aged 88 after double pneumonia battle

Tributes from world leaders have poured in after the Vatican announced Pope Francis had died on Easter Monday.

King Charles and US president Donald Trump led the tributes for the 88-year-old, who was the head of the Catholic church for 12 years.

Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced his death in a statement on Monday morning: “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.”

The Pontiff’s death came just one day after he made a surprise appearance to wish worshippers a happy Easter from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.

Francis was hospitalised for several weeks in February, after suffering from a bout of double pneumonia. He returned to the Vatican in mid March to recover.

Pope Francis, originally from Argentina and the first pope from Latin America, led the 1.4 billion-member church since 2013.

Traders hold a moment of silence for Pope at the New York Stock Exchange

Traders hold a moment of silence on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange
Traders hold a moment of silence on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (REUTERS)
Athena Stavrou21 April 2025 16:07

Next pope must be someone of ‘great inner strength’ – Catholic leaders say

The next pope must be someone “of great inner strength” and inner peace, the leader of Catholics in England and Wales said.

Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols was asked about the qualities of a new pontiff, at a press conference in London on Monday

He told reporters: “I think we’re jumping ahead a bit. The Holy See, I think, is asking for nine days of mourning, and in a way that’s more important than speculation about the next bit.

“He has to be a man of great inner strength, and I think great inner peace.

“I’m not as privileged as Tim (Cardinal Timothy Ratcliffe) in meeting Pope Francis that often, but one time I did meet him and he said to me that after his election, he goes along to the chapel of St Paul before appearing on the balcony.

“And he said to me, from that moment in the chapel of St Paul to that day when we were talking, he said, ‘I have never lost my inner peace’.

“So I think those inner capacities, closeness to God and peace are the absolute essentials.”

Athena Stavrou21 April 2025 15:56

Gaza’s Christians ‘heartbroken’ for pope who phoned them nightly

Members of Gaza’s tiny Christian community said they were “heartbroken” on Monday at the death of Pope Francis, who campaigned for peace for the devastated enclave and spoke to them on the phone every evening throughout the war.

“We lost a saint who taught us every day how to be brave, how to keep patient and stay strong. We lost a man who fought every day in every direction to protect this small herd of his,” George Antone, 44, head of the emergency committee at the Holy Family Church in Gaza, told Reuters.

Francis called the church hours after the war in Gaza began in October 2023, Antone said, the start of what the Vatican News Service would describe as a nightly routine throughout the war. He would make sure to speak not only to the priest but to everyone else in the room, Antone said.

Holy Family Church in Gaza
Holy Family Church in Gaza (AFP/Getty)

“We are heartbroken because of the death of Pope Francis, but we know that he is leaving behind a church that cares for us and that knows us by name – every single one of us,” Antone said, referring to the Christians of Gaza who number in the hundreds.

“He used to tell each one: I am with you, don’t be afraid.”

Francis phoned a final time on Saturday night, the pastor of the Holy Family parish, Rev. Gabriel Romanelli, told the Vatican News Service.

Athena Stavrou21 April 2025 15:52

Trump pays tribute to Pope Francis despite pontiff’s criticism of policies

The late pope, who was born in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, previously condemned the U.S. President’s stance on immigration during his first term in office in 2016.

Trump released a statement on the pope’s death, hours after the Vatican declared the news.

“Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!“ he wrote on his social media platform.

Read the full story here:

Athena Stavrou21 April 2025 15:42

British cardinals rule themselves out of succeeding Pope Francis

Cardinals Timothy Ratcliffe and Vincent Nichols appeared to rule themselves out of becoming the next pope.

Speaking at a press conference in London on Monday, the pair were asked about the possibilities of either of them becoming a new pontiff.

Cardinal Ratcliffe, who is aged 79, told reporters: “I believe the Holy Spirit is far too wise to even think of me for the shortest moment.”

Cardinal Nichols, who will be 80 in November and has been head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales since 2009, said he is “too old, not capable”.

He added: “I’ll go quite peacefully.”

Cardinal Nichols has been head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales since 2009
Cardinal Nichols has been head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales since 2009 (PA Media)
Athena Stavrou21 April 2025 15:33

Pictured: Special Easter Monday mass in Glasgow after Pope’s death

(Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
(Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
Archbishop of Glasgow William Nolan during a special Easter Monday Mass at St Andrew's RC Metropolitan Cathedral in Glasgow
Archbishop of Glasgow William Nolan during a special Easter Monday Mass at St Andrew’s RC Metropolitan Cathedral in Glasgow (Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
Athena Stavrou21 April 2025 15:25

Football matches called off after Pope’s death

Football matches in Italy have been called off today following the Pope’s death.

Four Serie A matches have been rescheduled to play on Wednesday.

Torino v Udinese, Cagliari v Fiorentina, Genoa v Lazio and Parma v Juventus were all due to play today.

(Getty Images)
Athena Stavrou21 April 2025 15:13

Palestinian officials pay tribute to Pope

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas paid tribute to Pope Francis on Monday.

Mr Abbas called him a “faithful friend of the Palestinian people,” and noted he “recognised the Palestinian state and authorised the Palestinian flag to be raised in the Vatican.”

In his final public appearance on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis condemned Gaza’s “deplorable humanitarian situation” as he reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire.

The Pope phoned the Catholic parish priest in Gaza every night since Israel launched its attack on the strip in October 2023, even while he was in hospital receiving treatment for pneumonia.

Athena Stavrou21 April 2025 15:00

Vatican to hold prayer service this evening

The Vatican will host an evening prayer for Pope Francis on Monday.

A senior Vatican cardinal will lead a prayer service in St. Peter’s Square on at 7:30 pm local time (6:30pm UK time), a Vatican spokesman said.

(Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Athena Stavrou21 April 2025 14:38

Pope Francis ‘made us want to be better people’ – Obama

Former US president Barack Obama has said Pope Francis “made us want to be better people”.

Sharing a picture to X of the pair smiling as they shook hands in the White House’s Oval Office in 2015, Mr Obama said: “Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people.

“In his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound – embracing the sick, ministering to the homeless, washing the feet of young prisoners – he shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another.

Obama met Pope Francis during his presidency
Obama met Pope Francis during his presidency (AFP via Getty Images)

“Today, Michelle and I mourn with everyone around the world – Catholic and non-Catholic alike – who drew strength and inspiration from the Pope’s example.

“May we continue to heed his call to ‘never remain on the sidelines of this march of living hope’.”

Athena Stavrou21 April 2025 14:21

Source: independent.co.uk