By: Bernadette Carreon
Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on Easter Monday, as announced by the Vatican in a statement.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church,” the statement read.
Last year, Pope Francis visited Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, after receiving an invitation from local missionaries affiliated with the Catholic Institute of the Incarnate Word.
During his visit, he celebrated Mass in the capital, Port Moresby, where an estimated 35,000 people attended.
Pacific leaders, including Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape, welcomed the historic papal visit.
The other attending leaders included the Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni; the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Hon. Charlot Salwai; the President of Nauru, Hon. David Adeang; and the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Baron Waqa, alongside several representatives from other Pacific nations.
In 2015, Pope Francis made history with his encyclical, *Laudato Si’*, which urged urgent care for “our common home.”
He challenged people worldwide to view the protection of the environment as a moral and spiritual responsibility.
He was the first pope to directly link climate change with justice for the poor—those who are most affected by pollution, drought, and extreme weather conditions.
Pope Francis is widely celebrated as a prominent environmentalist and advocate for climate action, consistently raising awareness about climate change and calling for urgent responses.
Pacific Island leaders have identified climate change as the greatest threat to the livelihoods, security, and well-being of their communities.
The Vatican statement announcing Pope Francis’ death stated, “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
Pope Francis was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on February 14, 2025, after battling bronchitis for several days.
After 38 days in the hospital, he returned to his Vatican residence, Casa Santa Marta, to continue his recovery.