The last days of Pope Francis: the greeting to the faithful on Easter, an almost prophetic moment

It seemed to know. And perhaps, in his heart, he had already decided. Only yesterday morning, with a thread of voice and the tired but serene gaze, Pope Francis last over the last time from the Basilica of San Pietro. On Easter day. He met the faithful collected in St. Peter’s Square and offered the religious world in his listening, his last blessing Urbi et orbi. Then the sponsor’s ride to greet the thousands of faithful present. A simple, but deeply symbolic gesture, which today appears as a conscious, sweet and full of grace farewell. As if he wanted to make the last gesture of his pontificate, to celebrate Easter with the faithful, before delivering himself with confidence and abandonment in the hands of God. On the same day, he had met the vice -president of the United States, JD Vance for a quick greeting. During the meeting, Vance expressed gratitude for his welcome and said he prayed daily for him. Then the return to the residence of Santa Marta, within the walls he had chosen as a home since the beginning of his pontificate.

There Pope Francis passed away this morning, Monday 21 April 2025, at 7:35 am. Cardinal Farrell give the news: “At 7.35 the bishop of Rome returned to the father’s house”. He was 88 years old. After leding with strength and mercy the church for over a decade.

On 23 March he had been discharged from the Gemelli Polyclinic where he had been hospitalized for over a month, from February 21, following a bilateral pneumonia. Over thirty days in which faithful from all over the world carried out vigils of prayer both in San Pietro and in front of the hospital where the pontiff was hospitalized. Then, the resignation and the return to his residence. In the days before Easter, the Pontiff had begun to reappear in the Vatican, surprising the faithful. In particular when a week ago it arrived without the traditional white dress but indoxing the black pants and an alpaca poncho similar to that used by Argentine farmers. In its perfect style. No clamor: only the humility consistent with his lifestyle and with the spiritual imprint he wanted to leave to the Church.

In the last few days, the Pope has received a visit to some cardinals and tight collaborators. He prayed daily with the members of the Community of Santa Marta. The news of the death of Pope Francis generated a wave of emotion all over the world. From religious leaders to the heads of state, from the representatives of the United Nations to the simple faithful, the reactions follow one another in every continent. “The whole world will remember him for being the Pope of the people, the Pope of the last” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said to Tg1. “It will miss me too, we had an extraordinary personal relationship.” The condolence of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella: «I learned with great personal pain the news of the death of Pope Francis with great personal pain, warning the serious emptiness that is created with the coming of the point of reference that for me has always represented. The death of Pope Francis arouses pain and emotion between Italians and all over the world. His teaching has recalled to the evangelical message, to solidarity between men, the duty of closeness to the weakest, to international cooperation, peace in humanity. The gratitude towards him must be translated with the responsibility to use himself, as he has constantly done, for these objectives ». Many people have already gathered in St. Peter’s Square, where the burning chamber will be set up in the next few hours. An intense page of the history of the Church closes with Pope Francis. A page made of listening, reforms, and mercy.