Pope Francis, the first pontiff from Latin America and one of the most reform-minded leaders in modern Church history, has died at the age of 88 following a cerebral stroke, the Vatican announced on Monday.
The stroke led to heart failure, according to Dr Andrea Arcangeli, head of the Vatican’s health department. The Pope had been battling chronic health problems for years, including lung disease and mobility issues, and was recently hospitalised for 38 days due to respiratory complications.
His death marks the end of a decade-long papacy that brought both admiration and division. Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, was elected in 2013 after the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. From the outset, he broke tradition — choosing a simpler residence, championing the poor, and calling for a more inclusive Church.
Though his health had been in steady decline, the Vatican said his condition deteriorated rapidly over the weekend. His passing triggers the centuries-old Conclave, where cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope. A date for the funeral and election process is expected to be announced in the coming days.
In his final act of devotion, Francis visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major — his chosen resting place — on April 12. It was his second visit since being released from hospital. The basilica houses the icon of the Virgin Mary known as Salus Populi Romani, to which he was deeply devoted.
Francis requested to be buried there, rather than beneath St. Peter’s Basilica like most of his predecessors, symbolising his preference for humility over hierarchy. Last year, he simplified the funeral rites for popes, placing more emphasis on their role as Bishop of Rome rather than head of state.
As leaders across the globe pay tribute, his death leaves behind a Church shaped by his push for openness and dialogue — and a question over how far that change will now go.
Azerbaijan’s participation in the United States-backed Board of Peace reflects a clear calculation of national interest, according to Chingiz Mammad...
Millions of people in Britain are struggling to afford basic necessities, with a new report warning that the number living in the deepest levels of po...
American rapper Ye, formerly Kanye West, has apologised for his past antisemitic remarks in a full-page Wall Street Journal ad, attributing his behavi...
Russian drones and missiles knocked out power in Kharkiv late Monday, while 23 people were wounded and an energy facility damaged in an overnight atta...
India and the European Union have finalised a long-pending trade deal, both sides said on Tuesday, calling it the “mother of all deals” as they se...
The year 2025 proved to be one of the most transformative periods for the Roman Catholic Church in recent history, beginning with the death of Pope Francis and culminating in the election and early diplomatic outreach of his successor, Pope Leo XIV.
Pope Leo has criticised corporate pay packages that grant executives hundreds of times more than workers, citing Tesla’s $1 trillion compensation plan for CEO Elon Musk. The remarks came in excerpts from his first media interview, released on Sunday by Catholic news site Crux.
Pope Leo has called on the leaders of Iran and Israel to show restraint and choose dialogue over conflict, urging them to act with “responsibility and reason” amid growing fears of escalation following recent airstrikes.
Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, the Catholic Church is preparing for one of its most ancient and secretive traditions: the papal conclave. This process to elect the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church combines centuries-old rituals with modern security measures to ensure
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has activated the state’s National Guard following the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis, an incident that has triggered protests and intensified tensions between state and federal authorities.
Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday the country should not fear pursuing energy ties with the United States, as Caracas seeks to expand oil and gas production and attract foreign investment.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has strongly rejected a U.S. magazine report on the death toll during January unrest. Nationwide protests erupted in response to soaring inflation and a national currency crisis.
A mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV was illuminated on Sunday at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, continuing a centuries-old Vatican tradition marking the election of a new pope.
Libya signed a series of multilateral agreements with international and regional partners, including Türkiye, aimed at boosting energy production, accelerating investment and deepening cooperation in the energy sector on Saturday.
Millions of people in Britain are struggling to afford basic necessities, with a new report warning that the number living in the deepest levels of poverty has reached a 30-year high, driven by soaring housing costs and rising child poverty.
India and the European Union have finalised a long-pending trade deal, both sides said on Tuesday, calling it the “mother of all deals” as they seek to hedge against uncertainty in U.S. trade ties.
The Trump administration has signalled to Ukraine that U.S. security guarantees depend on Kyiv agreeing to a peace deal likely requiring it to cede the Donbas region to Russia, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.
France’s National Assembly has approved a bill banning access to social media for children under 15, a move backed by President Emmanuel Macron and the government as part of efforts to protect teenagers’ mental and physical health.
Russian drones and missiles knocked out power in Kharkiv late Monday, while 23 people were wounded and an energy facility damaged in an overnight attack on Odesa, officials said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment