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Pope Francis Dies, Deep Sorrow Surrounds People Around The World

The world mourns the death of the head of the Catholic Church and head of the Vatican, Pope Francis. Pope Francis died at the age of 88. 

The pope died a day after his appearance in St. Peter's Square, the Vatican on Easter Sunday (4/20), the Vatican said in a statement. 

"This morning at 7:35 (0535 GMT) the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father's house," Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in a statement published by the Vatican on its Telegram channel, reported by the AFP news agency, Monday (4/21/2025). 

Pope Francis had previously called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. This was conveyed by Pope Francis in public at the Easter celebration on the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday (4/20). 

The pope did not lead Easter Mass at the Vatican but appeared at the end of the event to give a blessing and a message twice a year known as "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world). The pope did not preside over Easter Mass because of doctor's orders limiting his workload. 

The message was read by an aide. In his Easter message, Francis said the situation in Gaza was "dramatic and sad." He also called on the Palestinian militant group Hamas to release the remaining hostages and condemned what he called a "worrying" trend of antisemitism in the world. 

"I express my closeness to the suffering ... of all the Israeli and Palestinian people," the pope's message said. 

"I appeal to the warring parties: call for a ceasefire, release the hostages and help the hungry people who long for a peaceful future," the pope said in his message. 

The pope, who was hospitalized for five weeks with pneumonia, has stepped up criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza. 

Tag: Cardinal Kevin Farrell Catholic Church Pope Francis Dies Vatican