Monday April 21, 2025 | INTERNATIONAL NEWS [VICTORIA, BC] | Posted at 3:09 pm PT | Updated April 22, 2025
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Pope Francis has died today on Easter Monday. He was 88 years old.
The cause of death has been reported by the Vatican as a stroke and heart failure. He had delivered Easter Mass just hours before.
This comes after a lengthy 38-day stay in hospital weeks earlier, but notably within a day after delivering an Easter mass.
The death occurred at 7:35 am local time this morning, April 21, in Rome.
Francis was the name of a saint that helped the poor. Choosing that name as Pope (the first of any Pope) set the tone for his papacy.
Last official visitor:
He last official visitor was US Vice President JD Vance, one day before his death.
Pope Frances was known to have loved being close to the people. He had been critical of recent US immigration policy.
Remarks have published from around the world, including by King Charles III who had recently visited the Pope in Rome along with Queen Camilla. The King and Queen’s state visit to the Vatican in early April had been cancelled because of the Pope’s poor health, but they managed to visit him privately during their trip to Italy.
Timeline:
The Pope was born in Argentina in 1936 and studied as a Jesuit Priest. He was the first Jesuit to be a Pope.
He was born in Argentina near the winter Equinox and Christmas. He died in Rome at Easter.
He served as Pope from the year 2013 until his death.
He was a Pope who welcomed all people of faith and seemed to resonate with a ‘pope of the people’ vibe that appealed across nations.
Remarks from world leaders:
In Canada, statements have been issued by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during whose time in office the Pope came in July 2022 to Canada to offer an apology to Indigenous Peoples for the role played in residential schools by the Catholic Church.
Various leaders have posted their comments about Pope Francis, in social media today:
Barack Obama (US President 2008 to 2016): “Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people. In his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound – embracing the sick, ministering to the homeless, washing the feet of young prisoners – he shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another. Today, Michelle and I mourn with everyone around the world – Catholic and non-Catholic alike – who drew strength and inspiration from the Pope’s example. May we continue to heed his call to “never remain on the sidelines of this march of living hope.”
King Charles III [Excerpt]: “His holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world.”
Justin Trudeau (Canada’s Prime Minister 2015-2025): “My deepest condolences to Catholics and everyone around the world as we mourn the loss of His Holiness Pope Francis. What inspired me most, and helped me personally through our conversations, is how as a Jesuit he demonstrated that true rational thought finds its highest expression in compassion and service to all God’s creation. The legacy he left here in Canada, including his work on reconciliation, will continue to inspire Canadians forever. That brilliance of heart marked Francis’s life, and leadership.”
Liberal Leader Mark Carney (Prime Minister since March 23, 2025) [Excerts from a longer message]: “Today I join Canadians and Catholics around the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome — a shepherd of deep moral clarity, spiritual courage, and countless compassion. From every corner of the globe, the prayers of the faithful go with Pope Francis as he journeys to his eternal rest. / … His Holiness understood, and taught, that value in the market must never eclipse values in society. He showed us that we must not only measure what we value, but also value what truly matters. / … “Pope Francis leaves a spiritual and ethical legacy that will shape our collective conscience for generations to come. May we honour his memory by continuing to work for a world that reflects the solidarity, justice and sustainability that he so powerfully embodied.”
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh (NDP Leader 2017 to present):” Pope Francis showed the world that faith can be a force for justice. He spoke plainly about poverty, inequality, and the climate crisis. I attended his visit in 2022 where he offered an apology for the Catholic church’s role in residential schools. For many survivors, this apology was not enough. For others, it was a step towards recognition of the harm and trauma they experienced. His passing is a loss and his example will not be forgotten.”
BC Premier David Eby (Premier Nov 2022 to present): “Our hearts today are with Catholics in BC and around the world as we learn of the passing of Pope Francis. A spiritual leader to over a billion people across the globe, he will always be remembered for his humanity and humility.”
Former US President Joe Biden (President 2020-2024): “It is with great sadness that Jill and I learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. He was unlike any who came before him. Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him. For decades, he served the most vulnerable across Argentina and his mission of serving the poor never ceased. As Pope, he was a loving pastor and challenging teacher who reached out to different faiths. He commanded us to fight for peace and protect our planet from a climate crisis. He advocated for the voiceless and powerless. He made all feel welcome and seen by the Church. He promoted equity and an end to poverty and suffering across the globe. And above all, he was a Pope for everyone. He was the People’s Pope – a light of faith, hope, and love.”
UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer (2024 to present): “Deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis. His tireless efforts to promote a world that is fairer for all will leave a lasting legacy. On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom, I share my sincerest condolences to the whole Catholic Church.”
Funeral:
The funeral date has been announced as happening on Saturday April 26, 2025 in the main square outside of the Vatican.
The prayer rituals for the formal recognition of his death on April 21, his funeral and eight memorial Mass events are designed as moments for prayer, not mourning, for the purpose of prayer for the late Pope’s “eternal rest in heaven and for the church”.
Papal rites originally were approved by St. John Paul II in 1998 but were released only when he died in 2005.
The rites are divided into three “stations” based on the place they occur: “at home, in the Vatican basilica and at the burial place.”
As revised by Pope Francis, the new rites maintain the practice of having the deceased pope’s body placed in St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing and prayer before the funeral. However, instead of lying on a catafalque, that is, a kind of decorated platform, the body will be placed inside a zinc-lined coffin, which will remain open until the night before the funeral.
In his autobiography, released in January (2025), Pope Francis said, “I will not be buried in St. Peter’s but at St. Mary Major Basilica. The Vatican is the home of my last service, not my eternal home.”
World leaders at the funeral:
World leaders normally attend the funeral of a pope.
Governor General Mary Simon will attend the funeral on behalf of Canada. Prince William will attend on behalf of King Charles III. The president of France Emmanuel Macron will attend, as will UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer. Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy will attend.
US President Donald Trump has stated today that he and his wife will attend: “We look forward to being there!”
Burial:
It has been announced by the Vatican that Pope Francis, in his Will, is to be buried in the ground at a smaller chapel in Rome where he prayed before and after foreign trips. That chapel is dedicated to the Mother Mary.
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