His Eminence Cardinal Farrell today sadly announced the death of Pope Francis with these words: “Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the passing of our Holy Father Francis. This morning at 7:35, Bishop Francis of Rome returned home to the Father. He dedicated his whole life to the service of the Lord and His Church.

He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the benefit of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example, we entrust his soul to the arms of Jesus Christ and pray for Pope Francis in the infinite merciful love of the Triune God.”

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1958, he entered the Jesuit order, and he was ordained a priest in 1969. He became a bishop in 1992 and a cardinal in 2001. Following the resignation of Benedict XVI, he was elected pope on March 13, 2013.

His papacy was characterized by an emphasis on humility, social justice, and church reform. Pope Francis advocated for a greater role for women in the Church and open dialogue with other religions.

In recent months, he suffered from serious health problems. On Friday, February 14, 2025, he was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome due to complications from bronchitis. His condition then worsened, and on February 18, doctors diagnosed him with bilateral pneumonia. After 38 days of hospitalization, he returned to his Vatican residence, where he continued his recovery.

In 1957, at the age of 21, he underwent surgery during which part of his lung was removed due to a severe infection. In advanced age, he often faced respiratory difficulties; for example, in November 2023, he had to cancel a planned trip to the United Arab Emirates due to influenza and pneumonia.

On Sunday, April 20, he briefly greeted the faithful during the Urbi et Orbi blessing.

In April 2024, Pope Francis personally approved the second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis – a liturgical book that establishes the form of the pope's funeral rites. According to this updated version, his own funeral will also follow. The new edition introduces several changes, including that the body of the pope is to be placed in a coffin immediately in the chapel, rather than in the room of death.

According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the papal master of ceremonies, Pope Francis desired simple funeral rites that primarily express the faith of the Church in resurrection and eternal life. “The renewed rite,” said Archbishop Ravelli, “aims to emphasize even more that the pope's funeral is the burial of a shepherd and a disciple of Christ, and not a powerful person of this world.”

The cause of Pope Francis's death was a stroke that led to a coma and subsequent heart failure. Details about the funeral rites and the next steps of the Vatican curia will be announced shortly.

Source: Vatican News, Italian section

The information was taken from the website cirkev.cz

Mass for the deceased Pope Francis in the Cathedral

This mass will take place on Friday, April 25, at 6:00 PM. We will also join in a mass in our parish. A flyer for download is attached to this article.

Attachments for download

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