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Pope Francis made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday to bless thousands of people in St Peter’s Square, after meeting US Vice President JD Vance.
Pope Francis died at the age of 88. (File)
Pope Francis, the first non-European pontiff to lead the Roman Catholic Church, has died aged 88. The pontiff, who had a chronic lung condition and had part of one lung removed in his youth, was suffering from two respiratory crises.
The Argentinian pope charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor and marginalised people. His stance on LGBTQ+ communities, capitalism and climate change gained widespread attention but earned the ire of conservatives, including members of US President Donald Trump’s administration.
Francis made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday, a day before his death, to bless thousands of people in St Peter’s Square, drawing wild cheers and applause. Before this, he held a private meeting with US President JD Vance, who was visiting Italy with his family for the weekend.
Pope Francis’ Final Words
Before his unfortunate passing, Pope Francis had a final message for the world on Easter Day, reminding the people of the essence of life, freedom and peace. His final tweet read, “Christ is risen! These words capture the entire meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life.”
This message echoed his Easter address earlier in the day during his appearance at St Peter’s Square, where
thousands of people cheered in applause after seeing him in a popemobile for the first time since his double pneumonia. The pope looked visibly weak and tired after spending 38 days in hospital with double pneumonia, and was also unable to speak for long periods due to his respiratory difficulties.
The 88-year-old pontiff stressed the need for peace and freedom in his final address. He declared the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of human hope, signifying the triumph of love over hatred and life over death. He called for a renewed sense of trust, not in God but also each other.
The Vatican also released the text of the Pope’s Easter Sunday message, where Francis appealed for an end to conflicts across the world, particularly in Gaza. He lamented the “death and destruction” taking place, which had created “a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation.”
Meeting With JD Vance
Pope Francis also met Vance at his residence on that day to exchange Easter greetings, after previously clashing with the vice president over the Trump administration’s policies. “Pope Francis had a brief private encounter … lasting a few minutes, in order to exchange good wishes on Easter day,” read a statement.
The Pope gifted Vance three chocolate Easter eggs for his children. Vance also met senior Vatican officials for formal talks on the previous day, which Francis did not attend due to ill-health. The pope and Vatican officials have criticised several of the policies introduced by Trump, including his plans to deport millions of migrants from the US.
After the pope’s passing, Vance said, “I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul.”
