Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide, passed away on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. His death followed a widely watched appearance in St. Peter's Square for Easter Sunday, where he delivered a blessing to thousands of pilgrims.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, in a statement published on the Vatican's Telegram channel, shared: "This morning at 7:35 a.m. (0535 GMT) the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father." The announcement has triggered an outpouring of grief across global religious communities, including Asia's significant Catholic populations in the Philippines, India, and South Korea.
Pope Francis, known for his humility and progressive stance on social issues, made historic visits to Asian nations such as Sri Lanka and Japan, emphasizing interfaith dialogue and poverty alleviation. His passing marks the end of a decade-long papacy that reshaped the Catholic Church's engagement with modern challenges.
