Listeners:
Top listeners:
-
play_arrow
Pope Francis Dies At Age 88 (Update)
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
VATICAN CITY (Worthy News) – Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican confirmed Monday.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber,” announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta. “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house 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 fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized,” he said.
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend 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 Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days. He eventually returned to the Vatican but remained frail.
Francis will be remembered as the “Pope of the poor.”
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope on March 13, 2013, reportedly surprising many Church watchers who had previously considered the Argentine cleric, known for his concern for the poor, an outsider.
He sought to project simplicity into the grand role and never took possession of the ornate papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors, saying he preferred to live in a community setting for his “psychological health”
STRUGGLE WITH HEALTH
His struggle with health began already in 1957 when, in his early 20s, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in his native Argentina to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection.
As he aged, Pope Francis frequently suffered bouts of respiratory illnesses, even canceling a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation, according to sources familiar with his situation.
In April 2024, the late Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites. This edition will guide the funeral Mass, which has yet to be announced.
The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis introduces several new elements, including how the Pope’s mortal remains will be handled after death.
The ascertainment of death takes place in the chapel rather than in the room where he died, and his body is immediately placed inside the coffin.
Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, said the late Pope Francis requested that the 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 that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.”
NEW TASK
It was also the way he saw his task within the Catholic Church, which was under attack over a child sex abuse scandal and torn by infighting in the Vatican bureaucracy and leadership.
He was elected with a clear mandate to restore order, according to Vatican insiders.
But as his papacy progressed, he faced fierce criticism from conservatives, who accused him of “trashing” cherished traditions, charges he denied.
He also drew the ire of progressives, who felt he should have done much more to reshape the 2,000-year-old Church.
While he struggled with internal dissent, Francis became a “global superstar” in the eyes of many Catholics and others interested in the Christian faith.
He drew huge crowds on his many foreign travels as he tirelessly promoted “interfaith dialogue and peace,” taking the side of the marginalized, such as migrants.
He once took several migrants on board an airplane to give them shelter within the Vatican. And at his birthdays, he did not invite the rich and famous: the honorable guests were the homeless, whom he said the Church had forgotten.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
In a setback to those hoping for regime change in the Islamic Republic, U.S. President Donald J. Trump signaled Friday that he may begin “winding down” military operations against Iran, saying Washington is close to achieving its objectives.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance is expected to visit Hungary in a last-minute show of support for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who faces his toughest election since returning to power in 2010, officials familiar with the planning confirmed.
Anti-immigration and local parties made gains in municipal elections in the Netherlands, where concerns over rising migration from mainly Islamic countries, the financial impact of climate policies, and increased defense spending have dominated national and local debates.
Israel signaled Thursday it would refrain from further attacks on energy infrastructure after a strike on Iran’s vast South Pars natural gas field triggered retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, sending oil and natural gas prices sharply higher and raising fears of a wider regional escalation.
European Union leaders condemned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s decision on Thursday to block a 90 billion euro ($98 billion) loan for Ukraine, linking his stance to a dispute with Kyiv over Russian oil supplies.
Families and friends of scores of Christians held in Iranian prisons have requested prayers as “concerns for their well-being grow and communication has all but ceased” amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, Christians told Worthy News Thursday.
As a marathon debate over the SAVE America Act continues in the U.S. Senate, Republicans and Democrats are sparring over whether the voter ID bill would strengthen election security or discourage potential voters.
WHO WE ARE
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
CONTACT
- +1 908 280-4246
- Essex County, USA
- info@tnjrfm.com