Pope Francis Dies at 88 After Easter Blessing, Meeting with JD Vance
Pope Francis passed away peacefully at the age of 88, shortly after celebrating Easter Sunday. His death marks the end of a historic papacy that touched the globe.
Before ascending to the papacy in 2013, he served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, where he was known for his simplicity and dedication to serving the poor. As pope, Francis brought a pastoral heart to a global stage. He called for a “Church of the poor, for the poor,” consistently urging believers to live out the gospel through mercy, justice and love. He addressed modern challenges with clarity and conviction—advocating for care of the environment through Laudato Si’, calling for peace amid global conflict and emphasizing the importance of personal conversion and a life rooted in faith.
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On Easter Sunday, in what would be his final act of spiritual diplomacy, Pope Francis met privately with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance.
“I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul,” Vance said in a post on X, according to Fox News.
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The Pope gave a final Easter message, known as as the Urbi et Orbi blessing where he spoke on Ukraine and Gaza.
“There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others,” the sermon said.
For many, his death marks the end of an era—but also a call to carry forward his vision of a gospel-centered life, shaped by service and love.
Let us take a moment to honor this shepherd of the global church. May we pray for comfort for the Catholic Church, wisdom for global leaders and for the Word of God to go forth in power.
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Prepared by Charisma Media Staff.
