The Catholic world is mourning the passing of the first pope from Latin America, Pope Francis, whose liberal views on the church felt like a fresh breeze for millions of believers.
His passing was announced by Vatican in the early hours of April 21, Easter Sunday.
Pope Francis had made his last public appearance just hours prior.
Since February, Pope Francis experienced health issues and his health deteriorated. He was admitted to the Rome’s Gemelli Hospital where he stayed for over a month, longest during his 12 years of papacy. His cause of death was listed as a heart failure.
This year, for the first time since he was elected a pope in 2013, Pope Francis missed most Holly Week events, including the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum, the Easter Vigil at St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Holy Thursday foot-washing ritual.
On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis delivered the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing to the crowd and to the world. Due to his health condition, the address was delivered by a high-ranking archbishop on his behalf while Cardinal Angelo Comastri presided over the Mass in front of tens of thousands.
In his final address, shared by Vatican, Pope Francis wrote, “I would like us to renew our hope that peace is possible! From the Holy Sepulchre, the Church of the Resurrection, where this year Easter is being celebrated by Catholics and Orthodox on the same day, may the light of peace radiate throughout the Holy Land and the entire world.”
He then expressed his closeness to “the sufferings of Christians in Palestine and Israel, and to all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people.”
He appealed to the warring parties to “call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace!”
Pope Francis called for peace in Ukraine, and prayed for a final peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He urged the Church to keep the Christians of the beloved Middle East in its thoughts and prayers, and sought for a solution for the people of Yemen.
His message resonated deeply with every Christian who wishes the same.
Pope Francis’ body has been moved to St Peter’s Basilica, where it will lie in state for three days ahead of his funeral on Saturday which is expected to be attended by hundreds of thousands of believers and world leaders.
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