Pope of the Poor Goes Home: Vatican Announces Death of World's Most Unusual Catholic Leader, Pope Francis  Aged 88

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

As Catholics and Christians across the world celebrate Easter Monday, marking the appearance of Christ to his disciples after his resurrection, the Vatican has announced the passing away of the Spiritual Head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis aged 88.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered from live monitored video reports from ALJAZEERA that the Vatican made it known that Pope Francis reportedly gave up the ghost at exactly 7.35 am on Monday morning, signaling an end to the reign of the global religious leader who was rated as an unusual and unconventional Pope in many respects.

OTN News further reports that the Vatican camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Ferrel announced that, 

"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".

OTN News further observes that the dearh of Pope Francis on Easter Monday comes barely a day after the pope made his first prolonged public appearance since being discharged from hospital.

On Easter Sunday, Francis entered St. Peter’s Square in an open-air popemobile shortly after mid-day, greeting cheering crowds. He had also offered a special blessing for the first time since Christmas 2024.

During his Easter Sunday address, an aide read out his “Urbi et Orbi” – Latin for “to the city and the world” – benediction, in which the vocal pope condemned the “deplorable humanitarian situation” caused by Israel’s 18-month war on Gaza.

In the words of the Pope, "I express my closeness to the sufferings… of all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people,” said the message.

Continuing, he said, “I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace.”

OTN News gathered that on the same day, Pope Francis had held a private meeting with United States Vice President JD Vance to exchange Easter greetings.

Pope Francis led the Catholic Church for more than a decade and oversaw reform attempts but struggled to fully resolve longstanding crises.

He would be remembered as the first Latin American to emerge as the Pope and also generally perceived as the Pope of the Poor who lived his humble life, caring for and speaking up for the poor.

Pope Francis, full name, Jorge Mario Bergoglio waa born on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, of Italian immigrant stock. He was ordained a priest in the Jesuit order in 1969. From 1973-79 he was the order's top leader in Argentina before his emergence as the Pope.

Remarkably, he was the first pope born outside of Europe in more than 1,000 years and indeed the first Jesuit pope.

He would be sorely missed by Christian Palestinians for his stand and advocacy on the situation in Gaza.