As news of the death of Pope Francis broke today, millions of stunned Catholics are sharing and watching videos from just yesterday of the Pontiff’s last public address and his last use of the popemobile to greet tens of thousands of pilgrims in Rome.
“This was goodbye,” wrote the popular social media Catholic Arena account. “Pope Francis rode through St. Peter’s Square on the Popemobile yesterday despite being gravely ill.”
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Yesterday’s appearance was a surprise for many observers, as the 88-year-old Pontiff had been seriously ill – with Catholic News Service reporting that it was “something we haven’t seen in a very long time. The popemobile is back and PopeFrancis is making the rounds in St. Peter’s Square.”
“The crowd erupted in cheers of “Viva il Papa!” (Long live the pope) and “Bravo!” as Francis looped through the square in his open-topped popemobile,” Reuters reported.
“Seems the pontiff held on for Easter, then succumbed to his ill condition,” journalist Jeff Allen wrote – while one the pilgrims in St Peter’s Square said: “Yesterday, I filmed him saying “Buona Pasqua.” I didn’t know I was looking at him for the last time. Didn’t know I was capturing a goodbye. Thank you Papa Francesco for everything.”
Pope Francis’s death at the age of 88 comes after 12 years at the head of the Catholic Church. He had been battling with health issues following a five-weeks in hospital, and had been receiving treatment for double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis.
The news was announced this morning by Cardinal Kevin Farrell – Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.
He said: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.”
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
Tributes have poured in from across the world after news of the death of the Pope, with Archbishop Eamon Martin leading tributes on behalf of the Irish church.
“On hearing today the announcement that Pope Francis has died, my heart is filled with both deep sadness and immense gratitude, as we say farewell to a faithful shepherd who has walked closely with his people and carried their joys and sorrows in his heart.”
Bishop Paul Connell added: “I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of our beloved Holy Father Pope Francis. We were praying for his full recovery from his recent very serious illness. Pope Francis has now been called home to the Father’s house. We come from God and we all return to God. At this Easter time we are reminded yet again of the hope that Christ’ resurrection brings and we pray that the Lord will take Pope Francis home and reward him for the good that he did in this life.”
“I ask everyone in our diocese to pray for Pope Francis, that his gentle soul will rest in peace,” he added.
President Michael D Higgins said Francis brought a “unique humility” to the role and “sought to show in the most striking and moving of ways, the extraordinary importance of the spiritual”.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that Pope Francis’ legacy is “his message of peace, reconciliation, and solidarity that lives in the hearts of those he inspired”.
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, who had met the Pontiff yesterday, said his “heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him”, adding “I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill.”