«Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis», — announced Cardinal Kevin Farrell on the Vatican television channel.
On Easter, April 20, Pope Francis appeared in St. Peter's Square to congratulate the faithful on the holiday, and then toured in an open «popemobile» to bless infants.
In the Easter address, delivered by one of the clergymen accompanying Francis, the pontiff noted that «there can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and respect for the views of others».
Francis — a native of Argentina. He ascended to the papal throne in March 2013, succeeding Benedict XVI, and became the first pontiff from Latin America.
As reported by Reuters, he inherited a Church under attack due to the child sexual abuse scandal and torn by infighting in the Vatican bureaucracy, and was elected with a clear mandate to restore order. However, as his papacy progressed, he faced fierce criticism from conservatives who accused him of destroying cherished traditions. At the same time, he was criticized by those who felt he should have done much more to reorganize the 2000-year-old Church.
Although Francis struggled with internal disagreements, he gathered huge crowds during his numerous overseas trips, as he relentlessly promoted interfaith dialogue and peace.
Francis appointed almost 80% of the cardinal electors who will choose the next Pope, increasing the likelihood that his successor will continue his progressive policies, despite strong opposition from traditionalists.
Photo: Reuters