At 9:45 a.m., Cardinal Kevin Farrell, camerlegno of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with the following words:
"Dear brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. This morning at 7:35 a.m., the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father's house. He dedicated his entire life to the service of the Lord and his Church. He taught us how to live the values of the Gospel faithfully, courageously, and with universal love, especially for the benefit of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we entrust the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God."
The Pope was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from bronchitis for several days.
Pope Francis' health condition gradually deteriorated, and doctors diagnosed him with bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18.
After 38 days in hospital, the Pope returned to his Vatican residence in the House of Saint Martha to continue his recovery.
In 1957, in his early twenties, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in his native Argentina during which a portion of his lung affected by a severe respiratory infection was removed.
Over the years, Pope Francis has often suffered from respiratory illnesses, and even canceled a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to flu and pneumonia.
In April 2024, Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, which will serve as a guide for the funeral mass, the date of which has yet to be announced.
The body is prepared in the chapel, not in the room where the deceased died, and his body is immediately placed in the coffin.
Pope Francis revealed in December 2023 that he wants to be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. "I want to be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. The place is already ready," he said in an interview with Mexican television.
According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, director of papal liturgical celebrations, the late Pope Francis asked that funeral rites be simplified and focused on expressing the Church's faith in the Risen Body of Christ.
"The renewed rite," said Archbishop Ravelli, "seeks to emphasize even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is the funeral of a shepherd and disciple of Christ, and not of a powerful person of this world."
Taken from: ika.hr
More about the life of Pope Francis at:
https://ika.hkm.hr/novosti/papa-franjo-zivot-i-djelo/
GRANT HIM ETERNAL REST, LORD!
AND ETERNAL LIGHT SHINED UPON HIM!
REST IN THE PEACE OF GOD. AMEN.
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