Pope Francis Passes Away... Vatican Says "He Dedicated His Entire Life to the Lord" (Comprehensive)

Resumed Activities After Illness, Then News of Passing

Pope Francis passed away on the morning of April 21 (local time) at the age of 88.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, announced on this day, "Pope Francis returned to the Father's house at 7:35 a.m. today."

Yonhap News Agency

Cardinal Farrell stated, "He dedicated his entire life to serving the Lord and the Church."

He continued, "Pope Francis taught us to live out the values of the Gospel with faith, courage, and universal love," adding, "He especially supported the poorest and most marginalized people."

The funeral of Pope Francis is expected to be held simply, in accordance with his wishes during his lifetime.

While his predecessor, Benedict XVI, was known for his conservative and traditional views, Pope Francis was regarded as progressive and open-minded.

He was born in 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as the eldest of five siblings in a family of Italian immigrants. From a young age, he worked in places such as a sock factory while continuing his studies. This naturally instilled in him a simple lifestyle and a spirit of frugality.

He was also the first pope from outside Europe in 1,282 years and the first from the New World. Last year, he allowed Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples, which sparked strong backlash, especially among African Catholic communities that view homosexuality as taboo.

Pope Francis also showed great interest in peace on the Korean Peninsula. In 2014, he chose South Korea as the first destination on his visit to Asia. The pope made several attempts to visit North Korea, but these did not materialize due to Pyongyang's lack of enthusiasm.

Pope Francis had been hospitalized at Gemelli Hospital in Rome for respiratory illness since February 14. Although his condition worsened during his stay, he was discharged on March 23 after 38 days of hospitalization and had recently resumed his activities.

Just the day before, he had met with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for Easter Sunday and delivered his Easter message. News of his sudden passing was then announced.