{"id":134526,"date":"2025-04-21T10:36:09","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T10:36:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/live-updates-pope-francis-dies-at-age-88-nbc-news\/"},"modified":"2025-04-21T10:36:09","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T10:36:09","slug":"live-updates-pope-francis-dies-at-age-88-nbc-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/live-updates-pope-francis-dies-at-age-88-nbc-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Live updates: Pope Francis dies at age 88 – NBC News"},"content":{"rendered":"

DEVELOPING: Pope Francis, an Argentine who brought reforms to the Catholic Church, dies at 88<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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Astha Rajvanshi<\/span><\/span><\/span>
Leaders across Europe continue to share personal tributes for Francis following his death this morning.
\u201cFrom Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest,\u201d French President Emmanuel Macron said in a post on X<\/a>. \u201cMay it unite people with each other and with nature. May this hope continually revive beyond him,” he said.
Italy\u2019s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a Facebook post<\/a> that news of the pontiff\u2019s death \u201cpains us deeply, because a great man and a great pastor leaves us,\u201d while remembering \u201cthe privilege\u201d she had to enjoy his friendship, his advice, and his teachings.\u201d
In the Netherlands, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof called Francis \u201cin every way a man of the people\u201d and \u201ca role model for many \u2014 Catholics and non-Catholics alike\u201d in a post on X<\/a>, while Poland\u2019s President\u00a0Andrzej Duda said in a separate post<\/a> that the pope was \u201cguided by humility and modesty\u201d in his pasatoral ministry.
The European Union Commission\u2019s president, Ursula von der Leyen said<\/a> Francis had \u201cinspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate,\u201d adding that her thoughts \u201care with all who feel this profound loss.\u201d
Henry Austin<\/span><\/span><\/span>
Hours before his death, Pope Francis appeared on the balcony of St. Peter\u2019s Basilica to celebrate Easter services yesterday, as a cheering crowd of thousands gathered at the\u00a0Vatican\u2019s St. Peter\u2019s Square.
\u201cDear brothers and sisters,\u00a0happy Easter,\u201d he said, waving and giving his blessing.
Francis did not lead the Easter Mass, but Cardinal Angelo Comastri, a retired archpriest of St. Peter\u2019s Basilica, took his place and delivered the homily that he had prepared.
During the address, Francis made a strong appeal for peace around the world,\u00a0<\/strong>particularly in Gaza, where he said \u201cterrible conflict continues to cause death and destruction,\u201d and called for a ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
Astha Rajvanshi<\/span><\/span><\/span>
Pope Francis’ successor will be chosen during a conclave, a gathering of cardinals who were appointed by the pope as his most senior officials, who will now be charged with electing a new pontiff in strict seclusion at the Vatican.
Known as the College of Cardinals, this group will govern the Catholic Church during the time between the pope\u2019s death and the election of his successor, which will be held in secrecy inside the Sistine Chapel.
During the election, a process that can usually take several days, weeks, or months, 138 of the 252 senior cardinals will be eligible to vote for the new pope. Those excluded are over the age of 80 and can only join the debate over who should be elected. A new pope will be determined after individual cardinals cast their votes for their preferred candidate.
During this time, the cardinals burn their ballot papers to send a smoke signal twice a day to indicate how the election is proceeding. Black smoke will signal an inconclusive ballot, while white smoke will mean a new pope has been chosen.
Astha Rajvanshi<\/span><\/span><\/span>
Reporting from London
King Charles issued a special tribute to Pope Francis, with whom he met in early April alongside Queen Camilla during the pontiff’s final weeks.
“My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis,” Charles said in a statement issued by the Royal Palace, adding, “Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry.”
Recalling his meetings with the Pope over the years “with particular affection,” Charles said he and Camilla were “greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.” The royal couple’s private visit to the Vatican took place on their 20th wedding anniversary <\/a>on April 9, with Francis personally wishing them a happy anniversary.
“We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ,” Charles added.
Astha Rajvanshi<\/span><\/span><\/span>
The White House offered its condolences this morning, writing, “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis,” in a post<\/a> on X accompanied by photos of the pontiff in separate meetings with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, whom he met with just yesterday.
In a separate statement earlier today, Vance shared his own tribute to the pope, whom he met with briefly in Rome yesterday to exchange Easter greetings amid growing tensions between the Holy See and the Trump administration over Washington’s immigration policies.
“I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill,” Vance said in a post on X<\/a>. “But I\u2019ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful,” he said, sharing a link<\/a> to Francis’ words.
\u201cMy heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,\u201d Vance added, with his meeting with the pontiff unfolding after the vice president clashed with the pope over the Trump administration’s deportation plans, which the pontiff described as a \u201cdisgrace.\u201d
NBC News<\/span><\/span><\/span>
Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the death of Pope Francis, saying the pontiff \u201creturned to the house of the Father\u201d in the early hours of Easter Monday.\u00a0
Mithil Aggarwal<\/span><\/span><\/span>
Toward the end of his life, Francis suffered a number of health issues, which often forced him to rely on a wheelchair or canes.
He had been discharged from the hospital last month after not been seen in public for more than five weeks. At times, the pope had required high-flow oxygen therapy, according to the Vatican, and his changing health status captivated the world\u2019s attention.
That recent hospitalization wasn’t Pope Francis\u2019 first serious health challenge. In 2021, he underwent surgery for diverticulitis, a gastrointestinal condition, and again in 2023 for a hernia.
In January 2024, he\u00a0appeared in a sling<\/a>\u00a0after injuring his right forearm in a fall at his residence. The Vatican confirmed that\u00a0no bones were broken, but the tumble came weeks after the pontiff bruised his face in another fall in December, according to Reuters.
Claudio Lavanga<\/span><\/span><\/span>
Patrick Smith<\/span><\/span><\/span>
Reporting from ROME
Pilgrims who have made the trip to the Vatican on Easter Monday, some to express love and support for Pope Francis, were only slowly learning about the news of his death this morning.
One group was praying for him in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican this morning, while smiling and taking selfies \u2014 they didn’t seem to realize that the Pope has died.
To some, the Pope had looked in better shape in his unplanned appearance yesterday, as he was without the oxygen tubes he had relied on to breath after his recent hospitalization.
Max Butterworth<\/span><\/span><\/span>
Crowds have begun to build at St. Peter\u2019s Square at the Vatican this morning, with mourners gathering to offer their prayers following news of Pope Francis’ death.
Astha Rajvanshi<\/span><\/span><\/span>
Condolences over the death of Pope Francis are pouring in from world leaders.
\u201cThe death of Pope Francis fills me with great sadness,\u201d Germany\u2019s chancellor-in-waiting, Friedrich Merz, said in a post on X<\/a>, adding, \u201cFrancis will be remembered for his tireless commitment to the weakest in society, to justice and reconciliation. Humility and faith in God\u2019s mercy guided him in this.\u201d
In Israel, President Isaac Herzog sent his \u201cdeepest condolences to the Christian world and especially the Christian communities in Israel \u2014 the Holy Land \u2014 on the loss of their great spiritual father, His Holiness Pope Francis,\u201d in a post on X<\/a>, adding, \u201cI truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered.\u201d
In Iran, the foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also offered his condolences to Christians all over the world, according to Iranian state news agency Fars News.
Astha Rajvanshi<\/span><\/span><\/span>
Pope Francis, a reformer from Argentina who rattled the Catholic Church\u2019s traditionalists and inspired progressives by reaching out to gay people and championing the rights of immigrants and the poor, has died, the Vatican announced.
He was 88.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the Pope\u2019s death in a statement released by the Vatican during the early hours of Monday.
\u201cAt 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,\u201d the Cardinal said.
Read <\/em><\/strong><\/a>the <\/em><\/strong><\/a>full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a>
© 2025 NBCUniversal Media, LLC<\/p>\n

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