Just one day after greeting the faithful in St Peter's Square for Easter, Pope Francis passed away. The head of the Catholic Church died from a stroke at the age of 88. Mourners have been paying their respects in Vatican City.

Vatican City

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, has died at age 88 from a cerebral stroke and subsequent heart failure, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis Dies

Mourners from around the world have gathered in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, to honor the late Pope Francis, who was the head of the Catholic Church. Pilgrims, including a group from Bolivia and the Gilligan family from the United States, sought solace and the chance to pay their respects following the Pope's recent passing due to a stroke at the age of 88. 

Pope Francis, known during his papacy for advocating for the marginalized and encouraging inclusivity within the Church, often faced opposition from conservative factions for his stances on issues such as acceptance of same-sex couples and environmental responsibility. Despite differing opinions, his efforts to make the Church more open and responsive to global issues were widely recognized.

Pope Francis also garnered attention for his engagement in political discussions, particularly in defense of migrants and advocating for peace. His actions, such as frequently reaching out to Gaza's Catholic Church during conflict and calling for ceasefires, highlighted his commitment to peace. This commitment solidified his legacy as a transformative figure who courageously challenged traditional structures within the Catholic Church. As the Church now looks toward future leadership, questions arise about whether his successor will continue in his reformist footsteps. 



Mourners hold prayer in St. Peter's Square to honor Pope Francis

United in prayer and in their sorrow, this group of pilgrims from Bolivia are paying their respects to Pope Francis. Believers like them have come from far and wide to St. Peter's Square in the Vatican to mourn, including the Gilligan family from the United States who saw the Pope's final public appearance on Easter Sunday. People here feel like they had a personal connection with Pope Francis. For many, Pope Francis was a breath of fresh air, championing the causes of the most marginalised in society and trying to make the Catholic Church more open and inclusive. But that's exactly what at times put him at loggerheads with many of the more conservative sections of the Church. The Pope had a benign attitude to same-sex couples and said that fighting climate change was a Catholic duty. He was at times accused of meddling in politics when highlighting the plight of migrants. Question now is if his successor will steer the Church in a different direction. I'm happy to have been able to work very closely with Pope Francis and the programme of Pope Francis was not his own. It was the programme of our Vatican Council, the Council of the 1960s. And this is what he was implementing in everything he did. And this needs to continue and will continue. Above all, Pope Francis wanted to be a voice for peace. He phoned Gaza's only Catholic Church every day of the war and repeatedly called for a ceasefire. His legacy is one of a Pope unafraid to take bold steps and courageous enough to rattle the occasionally rigid structure of the Catholic Church.

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Pope Francis Dies