After the Vatican confirmed Pope Francis’s death at 88, tributes began.
Following the Vatican’s confirmation of Pope Francis’s death, tributes are being offered to him. He passed away at the age of 88.
The pope’s death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican coroner, on Monday morning. The Roman Catholic pope, Francis, went back to his heavenly abode at 7:35 this morning. Throughout his life, he devoted himself to serving the Lord and his Church, according to Farrell in the release.
As a result of his teachings, we are more committed than ever to loving God’s people—especially those on the margins of society—and to living out the principles of the Gospel in all our relationships.
Pope Francis has our deepest gratitude for living as an exemplary follower of Jesus Christ, and we offer his soul up to the merciful, unlimited love of the Triune God.
A respiratory crisis progressing into double pneumonia led to Francis’s admission to Gemelli hospital on 14 February. He had a history of chronic lung disease and had one lung removed when he was young.
The 38 days he spent in the hospital were the longest of his 12-year popeship. After thanking the hundreds of worshippers in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis surprised everyone by taking a tour of the piazza in his popemobile.
Cardinal Angelo Comastri, a retired archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, was appointed to celebrate mass in the piazza instead of the 88-year-old pontiff.
Francis continued to have daily audiences in his Vatican hotel suite and even presided over an outdoor Mass on Sunday, 9 February, despite being diagnosed with bronchitis in early February.
Nevertheless, he had given his assistant permission to read his remarks out loud as he was complaining of breathing difficulties.
A section of Francis’s lung was removed when he was 21 years old. He has struggled with health issues for a long time, particularly winter episodes of acute bronchitis, and has required a wheelchair, walker or cane to get around his apartment.
Because he developed pleurisy, an inflammation of the delicate membrane that surrounds the lung, as an adult, the Pope was particularly vulnerable to lung infections.
Pope Francis is renowned “for his humility, compassion and unwavering commitment to the Christian faith,” as President Blair put it.
In his remarks, the former prime minister of the United Kingdom, who became a Catholic after leaving office, praised Pope Francis as a remarkable and dedicated servant of the Catholic Church.
Mr Blair commenting on the pope described him as a man well-respected for his humility, compassion, and steadfast dedication to the Christian faith and the benefit of all people, regardless of their religious affiliation.
He said his death has left Cherie and himself profoundly grieved and that they were praying for his eternal peace.
