ROME – Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, died Monday morning at the age of 88 due to a stroke followed by heart failure, according to a statement issued by the Vatican’s press office. Francis was elected Pope and Bishop of Rome in 2013 after the turbulent tenure of Pope Benedict XVI, whose unexpected resignation paved the way for the subsequent conclave.
Argentine-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the first Latin American pontiff and chose the name Francis after St. Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis’s demeanor and advocacy for the poor endeared him globally, but his criticisms of capitalism and climate change distanced him from conservatives.
Portrait of Pope Francis [Image Credit: Quirinale.it
Francis continued to encounter his challenges, as conservative elements both within the Church and politically in the international arena grew increasingly frustrated with his progressive approach, his outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics, and his tightening restrictions on traditionalist practices.
In a statement signed by Andrea Arcangeli, director of the Health and Hygiene Directorate of Vatican City State, the Vatican noted that Francis’ passing was complicated by other health conditions, including arterial hypertension, type II diabetes, and a previous episode of acute respiratory failure.
Earlier this year, Francis had been hospitalized for a little over five weeks after initially suffering a severe respiratory infection that developed into a polymicrobial infection and bilateral pneumonia. His medical team acknowledged that he had come close to death during this period, even considering stopping treatment. However, after stabilizing, he continued his recovery at his residence, Casa Santa Marta.
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican [Photo Credit: Stefano Ciotti, 2024]
Despite his deteriorating health, Francis — one of the oldest pontiffs in Church history made several public appearances at the Vatican during Holy Week, culminating in an Easter Sunday address that delighted the crowds at St. Peter’s Basilica.
One of Pope Francis’s last meetings before his death was an encounter with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who visited the Vatican this past weekend.
Pagan voices began reacting quickly to news of the Pope’s passing.
The Covenant of the Goddess issued the following statement:
“The Covenant of the Goddess extends its condolences to the Catholic world and all members of his spiritual family on the passing of Pope Francis.”
“Pope Francis shared a message of peace and justice not only with his own community but with many people around the world, ” said Manny Tejeda y Moreno, the Covenant of the Goddess’s National First Officer.1 “While his papacy did introduce certain challenges for the practice and visibility of Pagan traditions globally, it also opened important opportunities for interfaith dialogue—particularly around shared concerns such as climate justice and Indigenous rights.”
Tejeda y Moreno added, “He will certainly be remembered as the first non-European Pope in modern times, and more importantly, as a listener who sought to meet the spiritual and social realities of the 21st century for his Communion. His commitment to peace through spiritual awareness will be a central part of his legacy, both within the Roman Catholic Church and in the broader interfaith community.”
The Aquarian Tabernacle Church issued the following statement:
Pope Francis was a leader of his people and an advocate of community. We at the ATC appreciated his appointing more women to influential roles, giving bishops and laity a larger voice and easier avenues to express thoughts, and his addressing climate change as an urgent problem to be considered by all of the people. We know he goes back into the arms of God on this day, and we hope that his progressive changes and influence continue to help the laity of the Catholic Church feel empowered, heard, and connected with all the people of Earth.
Ár nDraíocht Féin, A Druid Fellowship (ADF) issued the following statement:
The ADF Mother Grove wishes to offer condolences to those Catholic believers and to all those who held Pope Francis in high regard. He was a man of peace, vision, and diversity, whose quiet voice could be heard by a billion Catholics, and beyond.
He was a man who tried to live his beliefs in the best way he could. We honour his memory, and we regret his passing.
Pope Francis, may there be blessings on your memory and on your legacy.
This is a developing story. We will continue to update it as further statements and information are released.
