Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. His death was confirmed by the Vatican in a video statement. He had recently recovered from a serious bout of double pneumonia and made a final public appearance on Easter Sunday, April 20, where he delivered the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing from the balcony of Saint Peterโs Basilica. That morning, he also met privately with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, despite past tensions over immigration policies. Known for his efforts to reform and modernize the Church, Pope Francis’s papacy was marked by both hope and controversy. He championed social justice, advocated for the poor, and pushed for greater inclusion within the Church. His death marks the end of a transformative era and leaves a strong influence on the future of the Church, having appointed most of its current electors. #popefrancis #eastersunday #vaticannews #catholicchurch #popefrancispasses #romancatholic #papalnews #breakingnews #churchhistory #rippopefrancis
