People all throughout the world were awakened this morning by the news of Pope Francis’s death. On Easter Monday, the Vatican broke the heartbreaking news of the Pope’s premature passing.
In celebration of Easter, hundreds of thousands traveled to Rome to visit the Vatican. And many of those folks were there on Sunday when the Pope made his last public visit.
Continue reading to learn more.
On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis visited St. Peter’s Square for a quick visit to mark the historic event. After a protracted battle with double pneumonia, the Pope had been feeling under the weather lately, so a senior cardinal celebrated the Mass.
Cardinal Angelo Comastri presided over the ceremony, which drew tens of thousands of Catholics. Pope Francis appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. Using the occasion, he wished everyone present a “Happy Easter” and blessed the assembly.
On this occasion, the Pope generally gives a traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World), but this year, an archbishop from the Vatican gave it in place of the wheelchair-bound Pope. A
The Pope’s address left a lasting impression and touched on many important topics. He reiterated his call for a ceasefire, condemned the dire situation in Gaza, and described the “increasing 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,” the pope said in his final Easter speech.
The address also underlined that without respect for the beliefs of others and religious freedom, peace would not be possible.
The speech declared, “There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and respect for the opinions of others.” After the address, the pope drove around the crowd in an open-top vehicle.
When the pope passed away, he was eighty-eight. He had been in and out of the hospital for a while. Before leaving four weeks ago, he was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome for a month.
After he left, doctors still advised him that he needed time to recover from the deadly illness he had battled.
The pope’s declining health has caused him to miss the most of Holy Week celebrations for the first time since his election in 2013. He designated cardinals to supervise the Stations of the Cross in the Colosseum on Friday and the Easter vigil at Saint Peter’s Basilica on Saturday.
He also did not participate in Thursday’s foot-washing rite, which is meant to resemble Jesus Christ washing the feet of his disciples.
However, he did make a quick visit on Saturday to greet visitors.
Pope Francis has left a beautiful and enduring legacy. He will be remembered as an honest and devout guy for many years to come.
