On Easter Monday morning, April 21, 2025, at 7:35 a.m., the world received the sorrowful news of the passing of Pope Francis at his residence in the Casa Santa Marta, in the Vatican. At 88 years old, the Holy Father has gone to the Father’s House, leaving an indelible legacy in the recent history of the Church and humanity.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born in Buenos Aires (Argentina) on December 17, 1936, was elected Pope on March 13, 2013, becoming the first Jesuit pontiff, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European pope in over a thousand years. His election was, for many, a breath of the Spirit in challenging times. By choosing the name Francis, he paid tribute to the poverello of Assisi, setting the tone for a pontificate marked by humility, peace, and closeness to the most vulnerable.

During his more than 12 years as pontiff, Pope Francis championed a truly “outgoing Church,” as he described in his first apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. His pastoral style—simple, direct, and heartfelt—captivated millions of believers and touched even the hearts of non-believers. With encyclicals like Laudato si’ and Fratelli tutti, Pope Francis built bridges, called for ecological conversion, and emphasized universal fraternity as the key to peace.

Francis reformed the structures of the Roman Curia, promoted synodality as a way of walking together in the Church, and tenderly accompanied the marginalized and wounded of the world. His defense of life, the family, migrants, and the poor was constant and prophetic. He advocated for social justice, reached out to existential peripheries, and tirelessly worked for reconciliation and dialogue—even in the midst of profound internal and external crises.

Throughout his life, he endured various health issues, including the loss of part of a lung in his youth and several surgeries, including colon surgery in 2021. Yet he never lost his spirit nor his dedication to the flock entrusted to him. He maintained an admirable work ethic and a deep spiritual life.

Pope Francis will be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, outside the Vatican, fulfilling his personal wish. This deeply symbolic gesture once again reflects his humility and his closeness to the people of God.

Today, Catholics around the world raise their prayers for the eternal rest of the Holy Father, grateful for his generous service to Christ and the Church. As he so often asked: “Pray for me.”

Thank you, Francis. For your smile, for your courage, for your faith. May you intercede from heaven for the Church you loved so deeply.