People's Pope signs off, leaving behind a church changed forever

Faithful and pilgrims walk in Della Conciliazione street as they arrive to gather at St Peter's square following the death of Pope Francis in the Vatican on April 21, 2025. Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, aged 88, a day after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter's Square on Easter Sunday, the Vatican said in a statement. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)

The death of 88-year-old Pope Francis that occurred at the Vatican yesterday moments after he had appeared at the Easter Sunday mass to bless pilgrims, brings to an end the 12-year reign of man who was viewed as the “Peoples Pope.”

His death, coming shortly after the Urbi et Orbi (blessings and messages), a traditional function that the Pope carries out twice in a year mainly on Easter Sunday and during Christmas is now widely being viewed as a goodbye gesture he had come to bid Catholics worldwide.