Pope Francis: A farewell full of emotions and moving moments

Pope Francis: A farewell full of emotions and moving moments

Vatikanstadt, Vatikan - on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, Pope Francis died at 7:35 a.m. at the age of 88. In an official explanation of the Vatican, Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the death of the top of the church, which died of the consequences of pneumonia on both sides, which forced him to stay in the Gemelli Hospital in Rome in the spring. His last public appearances were characterized by weakness and health problems, but he held on to his duties.

on Easter Sunday, shortly before his death, Pope Francis spoke the blessing Urbi et orbi on St. Peter's Square. Despite the presence of around 35,000 believers, his voice was weak and he spoke only a few sentences. During his Easter message, which was read by a clergyman, he called on to respect for freedom of religion and expression and warned of growing anti-Semitism. After the blessing, he let himself be crossed in the open papamobile. These were some of the last moments that he experienced as part of his pontificate that started on March 13, 2013.

The last few days in the Vatican

Franziskus also showed in public on the days before, albeit with restrictions. On Maundy Thursday, he visited Regina Coeli prison, where he was greeted by around 70 inmates with applause, but refrained from washing their feet. In addition, on April 12, he surprisingly visited the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, where he will find his last rest. On April 10, he held an unusual appearance in St. Peter's Basilica, in which he did not wore his usual Pope robe and was medically supplied with additional oxygen.

The past few weeks have been a fight against health challenges for Francis. On Good Friday, he was represented by high-ranking cardinals at the Kreuzweg devotion at the Colosseum and was also not present at the Easter Night Mass, which Giovanni Battista Re celebrated. Most recently, at 11:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday, he received former US Vice President James Vance, which made this meeting the last foreign state guest of his pontificate.

The legacy of Pope Francis

Pope Francis, who was born on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was known in his hometown as the "cardinal of the poor". His commitment to social justice and the values ​​of the gospel shaped his pontificate. In addition to his charismatic charisma, he was a reformer who tried to reform the Vatican authorities and give the curia a new constitution. However, profound changes failed to do so.

The Vatican state that Francis headed is still an internationally recognized microst state, which in 1929 established the Lateran contracts with the Mussolini regime. This microst state grants the Pope sovereignty in political affairs and is also seen as a platform for international cooperation with other religious communities.

As the church historian Jörg Ernesti determines in a new book, the challenges in administrative management and the involvement of women in management positions continue to offer potential for changes in the Vatican. The Vatican is structured as an absolute monarchy and faces current challenges such as financial scandals, but it is expected that the state will continue to exist in the future and continue to adapt to the modern requirements.

Pope Francis devoted his life to the church and campaigned for the poorest and excluded throughout their life. His death closes the chapter of a pontifical heritage that will go into the history of the Roman Catholic Church.

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