Pope Francis Dead at 88 — Vatican Confirms News

The Vatican confirmed Pope Francis’ death. He was the second-oldest Pope in Vatican History.

Pope Francis was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1935. He has suffered from lung issues for a long time. His latest illness was a double pneumonia that required him to spend five weeks in the hospital, starting on February 14.

On Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, an American who is currently the de facto administrator of the Vatican, announced his death.

Farrell said, “At 7:35 in the morning, Francis, the bishop of Rome, returned to the father’s house.”

Francis was chosen as a tribute by the Pope to St. Francis Assisi, founder of the Franciscan order. He was the first Jesuit and non-European pope in more than 1,000 years.

His retreats on abortion and homosexuality were praised by Catholics, but he was also derided.

Famously, in his first news conference, he responded with “Whom am I to judge?” when asked by a reporter about a gay priest, but less than two years later, scolded intentionally childless married couples as “selfish” during a general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

He called on a Synod of Bishops in 2024 to discuss topics such as women’s ministries, married clergy, and ministering to gays and lesbians.

Many in the church have accused Francis of confusing the faithful, and it caused divisions within the church.

Five cardinals from four continents suggested he submit a “dubia” – taken from the Latin word for doubt, asking questions seeking clarity on five issues in August 2023. The issues raised included the blessing of those in same-sex relationships and sacramental absolution.

In 2022, he defrocked his most vocal critics, including Frank Pavone, an abortion opponent, national director of Priests for Life, and a former priest in Amarillo, Texas. It was because of “blasphemous posts on social media”. “In 2023, he replaced Bishop Joseph Strickland at the top of Tyler’s Diocese.

He was also a harsh critic of Donald Trump and other world leaders who advocated and enforced policies aimed at curbing illegal immigration.

The Pope has suffered from ill health in recent years. This includes frequent episodes of influenza and sciatica, as well as a hernia that required surgery.

He was elected by the College of Cardinals on March 13, 2013, as the new pope to lead the Catholic Church. He succeeded Pope Benedict XVI.