The world awoke today to the deeply saddening news of Pope Francis’s passing. The Vatican confirmed that the 88-year-old Pontiff died on Easter Monday, drawing a solemn close to one of the holiest weekends in the Christian calendar.
Thousands of pilgrims had gathered in Rome to celebrate Easter at the Vatican. Unbeknownst to many, they would witness Pope Francis’s final public appearance on Easter Sunday.
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Despite ongoing health challenges, including a recent bout with double pneumonia, the Pope made a brief but poignant appearance at St. Peter’s Square. While Cardinal Angelo Comastri led the Easter Mass, Pope Francis greeted the crowd from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, offering a heartfelt “Happy Easter” and extending his blessings to the faithful below.
Traditionally, the Pope delivers the Urbi et Orbi (“To the City and the World”) message on Easter Sunday. This year, due to his frail health and limited mobility, the address was read aloud by a Vatican archbishop. Nevertheless, the spirit and conviction of Pope Francis were unmistakable in the message.
He expressed grave concern about the “growing climate of antisemitism around the world” and drew international attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“I think of the people of Gaza, and its Christian community in particular, where the terrible conflict continues to cause death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation,” the message read.
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He also made a powerful call for the defense of human rights:
“There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and respect for the views of others.”
Following the address, Pope Francis was driven through St. Peter’s Square in an open vehicle, waving to the crowd in what would become his final public appearance.
His health had been deteriorating for some time. Just a month earlier, he had been released from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after spending several weeks recovering from a serious illness. Doctors had advised continued rest, but his desire to connect with the faithful remained undeterred.
Due to his condition, Pope Francis missed most of the Holy Week observances this year—a first since his election in 2013. He was notably absent from the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum, the Easter Vigil at St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Holy Thursday foot-washing ceremony, a tradition symbolizing humility and service.
Still, in a brief appearance on Holy Saturday, he offered a final greeting to the faithful, a reflection of his enduring dedication and faith even in his final days.
Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy of compassion, humility, and moral courage. He will be remembered as a shepherd of peace and a champion for justice, inclusion, and human dignity. His final words echo across the globe, a lasting reminder of the values he upheld throughout his papacy.
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