Key Points
- Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died aged 88.
- Francis was seen as an outsider when elected in 2013, described as “the pope of the poor.”
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said flags will fly at half-mast in Australia on Tuesday in honour of the pope.
Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died aged 88 from a stroke and subsequent heart failure.
Francis died on Easter Monday at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican’s news service said.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced his death on the Vatican’s TV channel, saying: “Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.
“At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
The Bolivian community sings and prays in St. Peter’s Square in memory of Pope Francis on the day of his death. Source: AAP / Marco Iacobucci / PA
The Vatican later released his death certificate. His death certificate said he died of “cerebral stroke, coma, irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse”.
He had recently survived a serious and was discharged in March after spending five weeks in hospital.
A Vatican spokesman said the pope’s coffin might be moved to St Peter’s Basilica as early as Wednesday morning to allow the faithful to pay their respects while he lies in state.
No date has yet been given for the funeral, but the Vatican said it would normally be expected to take place sometime between Friday and Sunday.
A group of cardinals are due to meet on Tuesday and will set the timetable then.
Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was seen as an outsider when he was elected pope in March 2013.
He inherited a Church that was under attack over a child sex abuse scandal and torn by infighting in the Vatican bureaucracy, and was elected with a mandate to restore order.
But as his papacy progressed, he faced fierce criticism from conservatives, who accused him of casting aside cherished traditions.
He also drew the ire of progressives, who felt he should have done much more to reshape the 2,000-year-old Church.
From the start of his papacy, Francis sent clear signals to priests and bishops about the type of Church he wanted.
He said there was no room for “careerists or social climbers” among the clergy, told cardinals they should not live “like princes,” and said the Church should not “dissect theology” in lush salons while there were poor people around the corner.
“If investments in banks fall, it is a tragedy and people say ‘what are we going to do?’ but if people die of hunger, have nothing to eat or suffer from poor health, that’s nothing. This is our crisis today. A Church that is poor and for the poor has to fight this mentality,” he said early in his papacy.
Outpouring of tributes
Tributes for Francis poured in from around the world, with many leaders praising his humility. His native Argentina ordered seven days of mourning, as did neighbouring Brazil.
The outspoken president of Argentina, Javier Milei, had clashed with the pope in the past, branding him at one point the devil’s representative on earth. But he changed his tune after taking office in 2023 and mourned his death on Monday.
“Despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his goodness and wisdom was a true honor for me,” Milei said on X.
“The pope of the poor has left us, the pope of the marginalised,” said Jorge Garcia Cuerva, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, a position Francis once held.
Devotees in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Source: AAP / Alessia Giuliani / Sipa USA
In Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australian flags will fly at half-mast on Tuesday to honour the pope’s death.
In an address on Monday night, Albanese said: “Pope Francis’ compassion embraced all humanity, and today he will be mourned by Catholics and non-Catholics alike”.
Albanese described Francis as “very much a modernist” and said he had “lived out his faith and vocation in word and deed”.
“He was truly inspirational in his modest way of life and at his weekly audiences, he demonstrated his commitment to peace, equality and inclusion,” Albanese said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Monsignor Stuart Hall leave St Patrick’s Cathedral after paying their respects following the death of Pope Francis. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
“Pope Francis’s love for humanity was powerful and profound. The memory and example of his compassion will long endure as we mourn his death.”
After attending St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne on Monday night, Albanese returned for morning mass on Tuesday.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton said Francis “served God with the utmost devotion throughout his life” on Monday, adding: “Above all else, he was driven by Christ’s values of mercy and forgiveness.”
Both leaders have paused campaigning and cancelled events for the day, but Dutton has confirmed Tuesday night’s planned leaders’ debate will go ahead as scheduled.
‘Grief and gratitude’
Speaking in Sydney, Archbishop Anthony Fisher personally described Francis as “very easy to talk to, very informal — rather like an Australian in that respect”.
“We have lost in Pope Francis a great pastor — a man who was a true priest and bishop and pastor for the whole Church — and he will be sorely missed by millions, billions of Catholics around the world,” he said.
Fisher said while Francis did not make it to Australia, he appointed a “hugely disproportionate” number of Australians in the Synod of Bishops last year.
“That’s a sign, I think, of a certain affection for Australia and the Australian way of thinking about things, that he chose so many to be at the Synod last year.”
He said there will be “grief and gratitude” among Australian Catholics.
“We got a bit of extra time with him, as it were, at the end, and he even got to give his last Easter message yesterday. I think there will be gratitude for that, and for all he has done for the Church over the last 12 years.
“But there will also be grief. A lot of people loved him dearly, and they will miss him as our chief pastor in the Catholic Church.”
Fisher said he has already received messages of condolence from Jewish and Muslim leaders.
“I think it’s a sign of something very beautiful about Australia, that we do share in each other’s griefs and joys when they come.”
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, said Pope Francis would be remembered as a man of simplicity, humility and compassion.
“While the Catholic Church, and indeed the whole world, will now turn its attention to the election of a new pope, faithful Catholics will also be praying for Pope Francis, that the mercy and compassion of God which he proclaimed to the world will now embrace him as he enters into the mystery of eternal life,” Costelloe said.
“They will also join with so many others around the world who will remember with gratitude the simple goodness of a humble man who was ready to make of his whole life a gift of love and service, not just for his fellow Catholics but for everybody.”
World leaders send condolence messages
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said news of Francis’ death was cause for great sadness because of the departure of “a great man, a great shepherd”.
“We say goodbye to the Holy Father with a heart full of sadness.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum labelled the death of Pope Francis a “painful loss”.
“Pope Francis was a humanist who stood for the poor, peace, and equality. He left behind a great legacy of true love for one’s neighbour. For Catholics and non-Catholics alike, this is a great loss. Knowing him was a great honour and privilege. May he rest in peace.”
Irish Premier Micheal Martin said Pope Francis held “a special place in the hearts of Irish people”.
“May his memory continue to guide us as we strive to build a world that reflects his vision of love and compassion for all,” Martin wrote on X.
Pope Francis has died aged 88. Source: Getty / NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images
King Charles said he and his wife were “most deeply saddened” to learn of Francis’ passing.
“His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others,” he said in a message.
“He was a good man, worked hard. He loved the world,” said United States President Donald Trump, whom the Pope had criticised in the past, especially for his hardline stance on immigration. Trump confirmed he would attend the funeral of St Francis in Rome.
US vice president JD Vance, who had met with Pope Francis over the weekend, said he was saddened to learn of the passing of Pope Francis.
“My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,” Vance said.
“I was happy to see him yesterday (Sunday), though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the…. homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media that Pope Francis’ life was “devoted to God, to people, and to the Church”.
“He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians,” he said on X. “We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences on Francis’ passing, the Kremlin said.
“Throughout the years of his pontificate, he actively promoted the development of dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, as well as constructive cooperation between Russia and the Holy See,” Putin said in a message to Cardinal Farrell.
“In this sad hour, I would like to convey to you and the entire Catholic clergy my words of sympathy and support.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said “In this time of war and brutality, he had a sense for the other, for the most fragile”, while Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s largest party, the Christian Democratic Union, posted on X: “He was guided by humility and faith in God’s mercy.”
UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres expressed his deepest condolences, describing Francis as a beacon of “hope, humility, and humanity”.
Palestinian flags in St. Peter’s Square for the Holy Rosary in memory of Pope Francis on the day death. Source: AAP / Marco Iacobucci / Sipa USA
And in the occupied Palestinian territories, where Francis expressed deep support for those enduring war in Gaza up until his death, Christians have gathered in mourning.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa paid tribute, saying: “He was always close to the poor, against the war … He wanted always to leave something for the parish of Gaza and the people of Gaza.”
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