Pope Francis has died. The first Argentine Pontiff passed away at the age of 88; he “returned to the House of the Father at 7:35” in the morning, announced Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, the Camerlengo (the one who takes possession of the apostolic palaces after the Pope’s death and ensures the safety and order of the conclave).
Bergoglio had been hospitalized in February at the Gemelli Polyclinic for an extended stay due to a polymicrobial respiratory infection. He was still recovering at Casa Santa Marta, his residence, but yesterday, on Easter Sunday, he insisted on returning among the faithful. He worked until his very last day; on Friday he visited Regina Coeli prison to speak with inmates, yesterday he appeared at the balcony to greet the crowd for Easter, then took a ride in the Popemobile through St. Peter’s Square, and had a brief meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The previous week, he had met with King Charles III of the United Kingdom and Queen Camilla.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936. A Jesuit, he had been the archbishop of the Argentine capital since 1998 and was made a cardinal by John Paul II in 2001. In March 2013, he was elected to the papal throne following the stunning resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
