April 21, 2025 – Pope Francis passed away this morning, April 21, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta after a prolonged illness. The 88-year-old pontiff had been ailing for the past few months marked by several hospital visits.

The Pope’s demise comes on Easter Monday which is considered an auspicious day for Christians. The Easter Monday Mass was held in Rome’s St Peter’s Square but it was delegated to another cardinal by the Pope whose health had been a matter of concern.

"Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican's TV channel. "At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father."

The Pope, who was the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, had suffered various ailments in his 12-year papacy. He was discharged from the hospital on March 23 after being hospitalised for five weeks for treatment of pneumonia.

He became Pope in 2013 after his predecessor, Benedict XVI, resigned.

After a pontiff's death, the conclave, which selects a new pope, usually begins 15 to 20 days later.