Pope Francis, history鈥檚 first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor died Monday. He was 88.
Bells tolled in churches from his native Argentina to the Philippines and across Rome as news spread around the world after the announcement.
"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," said Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, who takes charge after a pontiff鈥檚 death.
Rev. John Mulreany, a superior at the Jesuit Community at Fairfield University, said Francis' death one day after Easter Sunday was a shock despite the realization of the pope's declining health.
Mulreany recalled meeting the pontiff at the Vatican last November.
"We went to the pope's Wednesday audience and afterwards we had the opportunity to take a picture with Pope Francis," Mulreany said. "At the end of that picture, he had himself wheeled down to the very end to come to me to bless this package of rosary beads that I had."
"I will never forget his wonderful smile," Mulreany said. "He went down the end of the line and smiled at me and waved at me to give him the beads and to bless them."
"For me, that captures what his papacy was like, which was conveying this personal sense of mercy. A personal sense of the importance of each individual person."
A Jesuit pioneer
In addition to becoming the first Latin American pontiff, Francis was also the first Jesuit pope.
Francis lived in the Vatican hotel instead of the Apostolic Palace, wore his old orthotic shoes and not the red loafers of the papacy, and rode in compact cars. It wasn鈥檛 a gimmick.
鈥淚 see clearly that the thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful,鈥� he told a Jesuit journal in 2013. 鈥淚 see the church as a field hospital after battle.鈥�
Francis was also the first pope to name himself after St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th century friar known for personal simplicity and care for society鈥檚 outcasts.
"He had a particular focus on the periphery," Mulreany, the Fairfield University Jesuit priest, said.
"He wanted to make the poor the center. Those who were often on the margins 鈥� or those the world has forgotten."
A leader 'of peace for peace'
海角换妻 Gov. Ned Lamont said Francis led by his words and example and 鈥渨as one of the most inspiring Popes and spiritual leaders of my lifetime, at a time when we needed him most.鈥�
鈥淗e brought people together, teaching mercy, compassion and reconciliation,鈥� . 鈥淚 join Catholics across the world in mourning.鈥�
— Governor Ned Lamont (@GovNedLamont)
U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney recalled a visit to Congress by Francis and said the pope was 鈥渁 leader 鈥榦f peace, for peace.鈥欌��
鈥淗e urged us to lift up the poor, protect our planet, and show compassion to migrants and refugees,鈥� Courtney wrote on social media. 鈥淚 heard this firsthand from Francis in his 2015 address to Congress; his message rings louder today. May he rest in peace.鈥�
鈥淧ope Francis was an extraordinary individual who reminded us all of the rich history of the Catholic Church on social justice, and especially our moral commitment to help the poor and vulnerable," Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro said in a statement. "He challenged global leaders to confront issues of injustice, inequality, and the climate crisis with urgency."
Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.
He made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday 鈥� a day before his death 鈥� to bless thousands of people in St. Peter鈥檚 Square, drawing wild cheers and applause. Beforehand, he met briefly with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
Francis performed the blessing from the same loggia where he was introduced to the world on March 13, 2013 as the 266th pope.
This is a developing story and will be updated. 海角换妻's Lori Mack, Patrick Skahill and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
