VATICAN CITY – Catholics around the world are mourning the death of Pope Francis.
The news of the passing of the 88-year-old pontiff in his residence in the Vatican was announced on Easter Monday by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlango of the Holy Roman Church.
"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. 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."
Pope Francis entered hospital on Feb. 14, suffering from bronchitis. His condition continued to spiral and he was diagnosed four days later with pneumonia. He spent 38 days in hospital before returning to his residence at Casa Santa Marta.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on Dec. 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis was elected to head the Catholic Church on March 13, 2013. He was the first person from Latin America to ascend to the papacy.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre issued a statement on X.
“I offer my deepest condolences to all Catholics on the passing of Pope Francis. His humility, compassion, and steadfast faith had a profound impact on millions of Canadians and others around the world from every faith and background,” Poilivevre said.
“We remember especially his historic ‘penitential pilgrimage’ to Canada, when he sought to begin a process of Reconciliation by the church with his apology ‘for the evil committed by so many Christians against the Indigenous Peoples.”
Pope Francis visited Canada in 2022, calling out the residential school system and the Church’s role in the schools, later saying a cultural genocide had been carried out by the system.
Liberal Leader Mark Carney called Francis a shepherd of deep moral clarity, spiritual courage and boundless compassion in a statement issued on Monday.
"His vision of fairness between the generations was rooted in concrete calls for action, policy and personal responsibility," Carney said, adding the Pope showed the world that it must not only measure what it values but also value what truly matters.
"With his visit to Canada and apology to Indigenous Peoples on residential school, His Holiness heard from survivors and their descendants about that system's legacy of searing and enduring pain, and met it with an important step of accountability and healing on the share path toward reconciliation. He extended his papacy to the furthest margins, always attentive to poor and most vulnerable, as in all aspects of his lifelong service."
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Francis showed the world that faith can be a force for justice and 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 toward recognition of the harm and trauma they experienced.
"His passing is a loss and his example will not be forgotten," Singe wrote on X.
In a break from tradition, Francis has asked to be buried in Rome’s St. Mary Major Basilica and that his body not be put on display in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Cardinals from around the world will make their way to Rome for the Papal conclave to elect a new pope. Only cardinals younger than 80 may take part in the vote. A traditional 15-day mourning period is generally observed before the conclave begins, but it can begin sooner after Pope Benedict changed the rules before resigning in 2013. The conclave must happen within 20 days of a pope’s death.
