Pope Francis delivered a deeply emotional message the day before his passing (21 April) when he appeared to greet the crowds on Easter Sunday.
Earlier this morning (21 April), the Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis had died.
In a statement regarding his death, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell of the Vatican said: “At 7:35 this morning, the bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father.”
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.”
He ended by saying they “commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.”
On Easter Sunday (20 April), the 88-year-old attended his last public appearance on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, where he gave the attendees a heartfelt speech.
His Easter Sunday message called for peace and a “respect for the views of others.”
An aide, reading on his behalf, stated: “There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression.”
He also spoke about the lives lost in Gaza, particularly highlighting the Christians there, and pointed out that the ongoing conflict “causes death and destruction” and leads to a “deplorable humanitarian situation.”
