BREAKING: Pope Francis dies at 88

The catholic Church was thrown into mourning on Monday April 21, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis, who passed on at the age of 88.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis breathed his last after battling health complications in recent years.

He made history as the first Jesuit pope, the first pope from the Americas, and the first non-European pontiff in over 1,200 years.

Elected as the 266th pope of the Catholic Church on March 13, 2013, Francis became known for his humility, compassion, and commitment to justice.

Throughout his papacy, he championed causes affecting the poor, migrants, and the environment, gaining admiration across religious and political divides.

In 2015, he released Laudato Si’, a groundbreaking encyclical on climate change that called on global leaders to act against environmental destruction.

Pope Francis also worked to reform the Vatican bureaucracy, promote interfaith dialogue, and bridge divisions within the Church.

However, his tenure was not without controversy, especially among conservative Catholics who faulted him for his openness on issues such as divorce and remarriage.

His 2016 document, Amoris Laetitia, drew criticism for its perceived ambiguity on long-standing Church teachings.

Despite mounting opposition, Francis remained focused on his mission to make the Church more inclusive and merciful.

According to Diaspora digital media (DDM) reports, in the final years of his life, the pontiff’s health declined, leading to multiple hospitalisations in 2023 and 2024.

Yet he continued to carry out his duties, travelling abroad and meeting with world leaders until his health failed him.

Global leaders, Catholic faithful, and religious figures have begun pouring in tributes, describing him as a reformer, a peacemaker, and a true shepherd.

The Vatican is expected to announce funeral arrangements soon, as preparations begin to honour the man who transformed the modern papacy.

With his death, the world says goodbye to a leader who chose simplicity over ceremony and service over power.

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