Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican has announced.
The pontiff passed away on Monday morning at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.
Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1936, ushered in a new era of leadership in the Roman Catholic Church when he was elected Pope in 2013.
His death on Monday comes after the Pope’s five-week hospital stay in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, following a 38 day battle with pneumonia in March.
Pope Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia.
“At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father,” Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell said on Monday.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church.”
His death comes less than 24 hours after the Vatican celebrated Easter on Sunday.
He made brief appearance at Easter Sunday mass in St Peter’s Square on Sunday where he blessed thousands of people who had gathered for mass and then embarked on a surprise pope-mobile tour around the piazza.
However, he did not celebrate mass in the square.
In his place, Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St Peter’s Basilica, presided over the open-air Mass before thousands of people in St Peter’s Square on a chilly but sunny spring morning.
Pope Francis also missed the solemn services of Good Friday and Holy Saturday leading up to Easter as he struggled to recover after a 38-day hospital stay in March.
Francis had made only a handful of public appearances after leaving hospital and returning to the Vatican on March 23.
Getty Images“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised,” Cardinal Angelo Comastri said.
“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.″
Almost immediately after news of his death was announced, First Minister John Swinney paid tribute.
“It is with deep sadness I heard the news this morning of the death of Pope Francis,” Swinney said.
“He was a voice for peace, tolerance and reconciliation in our society. He brought comfort, assurance and hope to many. May he Rest in Peace.”
Pope Francis was the first pope from South America and the first from the Jesuit order. He brought many reforms to the church during his tenor.
His significant achievements include the papal encyclical Laudato si’ – “Praise Be to You” – in 2015 which addressed the climate crisis and championed environmental stewardship. He also made efforts to promote unity between Catholics, non-Catholics, and non-Christians; and made historic apologies to survivors of clergy sexual abuse.
Pope Francis also encouraged a more welcoming, and less judgmental, attitude towards gay people, single parents, and divorcees within the Catholic church.
He did not, however, lift their formal exclusion from the sacrament, and he reaffirmed the church’s rejection of same-sex marriage and of contraception.
The leader of Catholics in England and Wales said the death of Pope Francis as “a great sadness” for both Catholics and societies in general on Monday.
Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols said: “A voice proclaiming the innate dignity of every human being, especially those who are poor or marginalised, is now silent.”
‘His influence reached far beyond the Church’
UK Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey praised Francis as “a leader of compassion and courage, speaking up for those in need and calling for peace in a world too often divided”.
He said: “His influence reached far beyond the Church. He offered hope by reminding us of strength in kindness and faith.
“We should remember his example: stand up for what’s right, care for others, and hold on to compassion and hope.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer added that his “tireless efforts” to promote a fairer world will leave a “lasting legacy”.
“His leadership in a complex and challenging time for the world and the church was often courageous, yet always came from a place of deep humility,” Starmer said on X.
“Pope Francis was a pope for the poor, the downtrodden, and the forgotten. He was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine, persecution and poverty. Yet he never lost the faith-fuelled hope of a better world.”
Starmer added: “With his death, we are reminded once more of his call to care for one another across different faiths, backgrounds, nations and beliefs.”
Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair, who converted to Catholicism after leaving office, also paid tribute to the Pope.
He said: “Pope Francis was an extraordinary and devoted servant of the Catholic Church, admired both within and beyond it for his humility, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the Christian faith and the service of all humanity – Christian and non-Christian alike.”
Westminster Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said the pontiff’s death on Easter Monday “feels especially poignant”, after he spent his final Easter “bearing witness to the faith he devoted his life to”.
“He reminded us that leadership isn’t about power, but about service,” she said on X.
“When I met him in 2022, he spoke warmly of the UK and the values we share. In a world that too often turns away from faith, he stood firm.”
Scottish secretary MP Ian Murray said the news from the Vatican will be “heart-breaking” for millions of Catholics in Scotland and across the globe.
“Pope Francis preached a message of inclusion and tolerance, especially for the poorest and most marginalised,” Murray said on X.
Holyrood flags will fly at half-mast
Holyrood Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone announced that flags will fly at half-mast at the Scottish Parliament as a mark of respect following the death of Pope Francis on Monday.
Posting on social media on behalf of the Parliament, she offered her “deepest sympathy to all of Scotland’s Catholic community on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis”.
Ms Johnstone added: “We will remember his compassion and humanity. As a mark of our respect, our flags will fly at half-mast at Holyrood.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also said he was “deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis”.
“The Holy Father dedicated his life to serving the poor and dispossessed. My thoughts are with Scotland’s Catholic communities and Catholics worldwide,” he said.
Commenting on the passing of Pope Francis, Scottish Greens Co-Leader Lorna Slater said: “Our thoughts are with the Catholic community in Scotland today following the passing of Pope Francis.
“His commitment to securing peace for the people of Palestine and tackling the climate emergency even in his last days should inspire those working for peace and justice around the world.”
King’s message: ‘He profoundly touched the lives of so many’
King Charles’ message following to death of Pope Francis said he will be remembered for his compassion, and his “tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith”.
“Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many,” the King’s message stated.
“The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.
“We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ.”
Church of Scotland’s moderator, Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson, also expressed his condolences.
“We recall with gratitude the hospitality extended by His Holiness to representatives of the Church of Scotland and also the occasion of the Ecumenical Pilgrimage of Peace made by Pope Francis to South Sudan in the company of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2023,”he said.
Rev Paterson also renewed the call made by Pope Francis to “care for the earth as our common home”, and “to discover the presence of Christ in each human being”.
The Methodist Church GB also offered tributes to the Pope, offering “prayer and sympathy” to Catholics who have lost their Holy Father.
“Pope Francis spoke plainly of the hope that is to be found in Jesus Christ, showed profound compassion for those who are poor and marginalised, and gave particular emphasis to God’s demand for global justice,” the Methodist Church GB said.
“Through his papacy, Francis has fostered an openness to Christians sharing together in the Church’s life and mission, in ways which have broken new ground for the Catholic Church. In all these ways, for many Methodists Pope Francis’s witness to the Christian faith holds a special resonance, and his loss is deeply felt.”
The Archdiocese of Glasgow announced on Monday that following Pope Francis’ death, Archbishop Nolan will offer Mass at 1pm at St Andrew’s Cathedral.
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