My God…

Can it be true?

The Vatican has just announced the sad news

Pope Francis has died, Reuters reports with reference to the Vatican.

He was 88 years old.

A few minutes ago, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Holy Roman Church’s Secretary of the Holy See, announced the death of Pope Francis with sorrow:

“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with deep sadness that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.

Today at 7:35 a.m., Bishop Francis of Rome returned to his Father’s house. His entire life was dedicated to serving the Lord and His Church.

He taught us how to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized.

With infinite 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 Triune God.”

The pontiff has been very ill lately.

Pope Francis has a history of respiratory illnesses – in his youth, he lost part of a lung to pleurisy.

In 2023, the pontiff also suffered an acute case of pneumonia.