Pope Francis, who called to end war in Gaza and condemned Israel for defending its citizens, dies at 88.Pope Francis, who called to end war in Gaza and condemned Israel for defending its citizens, dies at 88.
Pope Francis died Monday morning, Vatican camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Ferrell announced.
In his statement, Ferrell said: “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church.”
Francis assumed the papacy in 2013.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog responded: “I send my deepest condolences to the Christian world and especially the Christian communities in Israel – the Holy Land – on the loss of their great spiritual father, His Holiness Pope Francis. A man of deep faith and boundless compassion, he dedicated his life to uplifting the poor and calling for peace in a troubled world. He rightly saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue as a path toward greater understanding and mutual respect.”
“I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered. May his memory continue to inspire acts of kindness, unity, and hope.” In February, Pope Francis was admitted to the hospital due to ongoing lung-related health concerns, including bronchitis followed by pneumonia, and in March, he experienced two episodes of “acute respiratory failure.” Around the same time, he experienced an “isolated” breathing crisis that included vomiting, as reported by the Vatican.
On Sunday, for the first time since assuming the papacy, Pope Francis did not lead the Easter ceremony at the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square, instead choosing to bless the crowd from a balcony.
Francis frequently condemned Israel for its response to the October 7 massacre, sparking backlash from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, which accused the Pope of reviving “the darkest patterns of Catholic Church history – patterns that for centuries transformed false accusations into violence against the Jewish people.”
