The news of Pope Francis’s passing awakened people up this morning all throughout the world. The Vatican revealed the tragic news of the Pope’s untimely death on Easter Monday.
Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to Rome to visit the Vatican in honor of Easter. And when the Pope made his final public appearance on Sunday, many of those people were present.
Pope Francis paid a brief visit to St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday to commemorate the momentous occasion. A high-ranking cardinal celebrated the Mass because the Pope had not been feeling well lately after a long fight with double pneumonia.
Tens of thousands of Catholics attended the ceremony, which was presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri. On the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis made an appearance. He took the opportunity to bless the gathering and wish everyone in attendance a “Happy Easter.”
Usually on the occasion, the Pope always delivers a traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and the World”), which this year was delivered by a Vatican archbishop as the Pope himself was in a wheelchair.
The Pope’s speech covered a wide range of significant subjects and created a lasting impression. In addition to denouncing the terrible circumstances in Gaza and restating his demand for a ceasefire, he explained how there was a “growing climate of antisemitism around the world.”
“I think of the people of Gaza, and its Christian community in particular, where the terrible conflict continues to cause death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation,” read what would be the pope’s final Easter address.
The speech also emphasized that peace would not be achievable without religious freedom and tolerance for others’ opinions.
“There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others,” the address read. After the address ended, the pope was driven around the crowd in an open-top vehicle.
The pope was eighty-eight when he died. He had spent some time in and out of the hospital. He spent a month in the Gemelli Hospital in Rome before departing four weeks ago.
Doctors continued to counsel him after he left that he needed time to recuperate from the life-threatening disease he had fought.
Due to his deteriorating health, the pope has missed most of Holy Week ceremonies for the first time since his election in 2013. He assigned cardinals to oversee the Easter vigil at Saint Peter’s Basilica on Saturday and the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum on Friday.
Additionally, he skipped Thursday’s foot-washing ceremony, which is supposed to mimic how Jesus Christ cleaned his followers’ feet.
But he did stop by briefly to welcome guests on Saturday.
Pope Francis has left behind a stunning and timeless legacy. For many years to come, he will be regarded as a man of faith and honesty.
