Pope Francis dies at age 88
The See of Peter is vacant.
Pope Francis – the 266th Bishop of Rome, the first pontiff to hail from Latin America and the Southern Hemisphere – died at home early Easter Monday morning. He was 88.
From Vatican News:
At 9:45 AM (12:45 AM Pacific time), Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words:
"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."
With the death of a pope, the Catholic Church enters a state of sede vacante – Latin for “the seat is vacant” – and soon the College of Cardinals will gather in Rome from around the world to lay Pope Francis to rest and discern together who will be the next man to claim the Chair of St. Peter.
We’ll have more to come on the life of Francis and his place in the history of his 263 papal brethren in the coming weeks.
May Pope Francis rest in peace.