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Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and Latin American pope, died on Monday at the age of 88. His passing marks the end of a transformative papacy that redefined the tone and priorities of the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, confirmed his death in a statement: “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church.”Church bells tolled across Rome as news spread of the death of a man who spent more than a decade trying to heal wounds, not just manage them.A quiet beginning to a disruptive legacyWhen he first stepped out onto the Vatican balcony in March 2013 and simply greeted the world with a plain “Buonasera,” the tone was unmistakable. Gone was the pomp. In its place, humility. An ordinary man, clad in white, asking for the people’s blessing before giving his own. Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, brought with him the heart of a pastor and the clarity of a reformer.From that first moment, the papacy took on a different posture. He refused the ornate papal apartment in favour of the modest Vatican guesthouse. He ditched the red shoes for his worn, orthotic ones. He rode in compact cars and carried his own briefcase.“I see the church as a field hospital after battle,” he once said. “The thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful.”Follow here for live updates 120482549Illness, suffering and perseveranceJorge Mario Bergoglio was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was the eldest of five children, raised by Italian parents who had fled Mussolini’s fascist regime in search of safety. As a young man, he enjoyed dancing the tango and proudly supported his local football club, San Lorenzo. 120482499Francis battled ill health for much of his later life. A chronic lung condition—he had part of one lung removed as a young man—left him vulnerable. In February 2025, he was admitted to Gemelli Hospital with double pneumonia and never fully recovered. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalisation of his papacy.As reported by the BBC, before entering religious life, Bergoglio worked as a nightclub bouncer and a janitor. He later trained as a chemist and took a job in a factory, where he worked closely with Esther Ballestrino, a human rights campaigner who would later be kidnapped and murdered during Argentina’s military dictatorship. Bergoglio eventually joined the Jesuit order, studied philosophy, and went on to teach literature and psychology. He was ordained as a priest a decade later, and by 1973, had risen to become the Jesuit provincial superior of Argentina.Later in life, he also suffered from chronic pain in his right knee—a condition he once referred to as a “physical humiliation.” He had previously undergone colon surgery in 2021, a second abdominal operation in 2023, and frequently used a wheelchair in his final years. Despite his ailments, he continued to travel, speak out, and carry the weight of the world’s oldest institution. 120482530Mercy for all: The people’s popeFrancis saw the Church not as a citadel, but as a refuge. “Todos, todos, todos” — everyone, everyone, everyone — was how he described its mission. Migrants, the poor, the imprisoned, and those shunned by society were given pride of place in his papacy. One of his first visits was to Lampedusa, the island overwhelmed by desperate migrants crossing the Mediterranean.“For Pope Francis, it was always to extend the arms of the church to embrace all people, not to exclude anyone,” said Cardinal Farrell.He caressed the head of a man disfigured by illness in St. Peter’s Square. He kissed the tattoo of a Holocaust survivor. He welcomed garbage collectors from Buenos Aires onto a stage in Rio.Even those pushed to society’s edge found an ally. “We have always been marginalized, but Pope Francis always helped us,” said Coqui Vargas, a transgender woman who met him during the pandemic.A voice for the voiceless, a challenge to powerFrancis was not afraid to speak uncomfortable truths. He warned against climate change, decried the “throwaway culture” of consumerism, and criticised unfettered capitalism.He was a pope of the pandemic, delivering a solitary blessing to an empty St. Peter’s Square in March 2020: “We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented.” He urged the world to “row together,” reminding leaders that the crisis had laid bare global inequalities.He famously challenged Donald Trump in 2016, saying anyone who builds a wall to keep migrants out “is not Christian.” 120482681Reform from withinWhile elected to clean up Vatican finances and bureaucracy, Francis pushed much further. He opened the Church’s doors wider to LGBTQ+ Catholics, told journalists “Who am I to judge?” when asked about gay priests, and called for an end to laws criminalising homosexuality.“Being homosexual is not a crime,” he told the Associated Press in 2023.He changed Church teaching on the death penalty, calling it inadmissible in all circumstances. He declared even the possession of nuclear weapons immoral.Francis appointed women to top Vatican posts, allowed them to serve as lectors and acolytes, and granted them voting rights in synods.“It was about shifting a pattern of domination... to a pattern of cooperation,” said Sister Nathalie Becquart, the first woman to vote in a Vatican synod. 120482736Not without mistakesHis papacy was also marked by missteps, especially on clerical sexual abuse. More than a year passed before he met with survivors. His early defence of a Chilean bishop accused of covering up abuse led to widespread criticism. Francis eventually reversed his position, apologised to victims, and accepted the resignations of Chile’s bishops en masse.He defrocked ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick after an investigation found he had abused both adults and minors. He removed the secrecy surrounding abuse cases and introduced new protocols to hold bishops accountable.“He sincerely wanted to do something and he transmitted that,” said Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean abuse survivor who later became close to Francis.Tradition and backlashFrancis’ compassion often collided with Catholic traditionalism. His decision to restrict the Latin Mass, which his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI had revived, infuriated conservatives. His openness to divorced and remarried Catholics, his endorsement of blessings for same-sex couples, and his agreement with China on bishop appointments were seen as betrayals by some.“We don’t like this pope,” read a headline in the Italian conservative daily Il Foglio just months into his papacy.He responded to most of these critics with silence.Following Saint Francis of AssisiHe chose his papal name in honour of St. Francis of Assisi — the saint of peace, nature and the poor. That choice captured the essence of his pontificate.He canonised Archbishop Óscar Romero of El Salvador, a martyr for the liberation theology movement, and offered public apologies to Indigenous peoples for colonial-era crimes. His concern for the poor was, as Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo explained, rooted in the Beatitudes — the blessings Christ gave to the meek, the mourning and the merciful.A humble bridge-builderFrancis was also a pope of firsts in diplomacy. He reached out to the Muslim world, met the Russian Orthodox patriarch, and signed a historic agreement with China over the selection of bishops. He reaffirmed the Church’s ban on female ordination and abortion, describing the latter as “hiring a hitman to solve a problem.”Still, he made space for women, the marginalised, and those long kept at arm’s length. He governed by example more than by decree.His papacy stood in stark contrast to that of Pope Benedict XVI, whose resignation in 2013 paved the way for Francis. While they differed in style and theology, Francis welcomed Benedict’s continued presence as that of a wise grandfather. “He opened the door,” Francis said of his predecessor’s retirement, but clarified that in principle, the papacy remains a job for life. 120482806Key Events in the Life and Papacy of Pope FrancisDec. 17, 1936: Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Italian immigrants.Dec. 13, 1969: Ordained as a Jesuit priest during Argentina’s military dictatorship.Feb. 21, 2001: Made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II.March 13, 2013: Elected the 266th pope—the first from the Americas, the first Jesuit, and the first to take the name Francis.July 8, 2013: Visits Lampedusa to meet migrants; condemns the “globalisation of indifference.”June 18, 2015: Publishes Laudato Si, his landmark encyclical on the environment and economic justice.April 8, 2016: Releases Amoris Laetitia, opening Communion to divorced and remarried Catholics.Feb. 21, 2019: Convenes the Vatican’s first global summit on clerical sexual abuse.March 5–8, 2021: Becomes the first pope to visit Iraq; meets senior Shiite leader Ayatollah Sistani.Oct. 4, 2023: Opens historic synod allowing women to vote on Church matters for the first time.Dec. 19, 2023: Approves blessings for same-sex couples—marking a major shift in Church practice.Feb. 14, 2025: Hospitalised with double pneumonia amid growing concerns over his health.April 17, 2025: Makes final public appearance visiting Rome prison on Holy Thursday, honouring a long-held tradition despite illness.February 6 - The Vatican says the pope is suffering from bronchitis but will keep his scheduled appointments. The pope had said the day before that he had a "strong cold".February 14 - The Vatican announces that the pope has been admitted to hospital for treatment of bronchitis. In later days, doctors announce he is battling double pneumonia.March 23- The pope is discharged after a 38-day hospital stay.April 20 - On Easter Sunday, the pope enters St. Peter's Square in an open-air popemobile for the first time since his serious illness, greeting tens of thousands of Catholics after the Vatican's celebration of Easter Mass. He also has a brief private meeting at the Vatican with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. 120482849Jorge Mario Bergoglio ascended to the throne of St Peter with one goal in mind—to change it. Though some Catholics hoped for a more progressive reformer, and critics often pointed to his perceived hesitation in addressing the Church’s deep-rooted sexual abuse scandals, Pope Francis still reshaped the institution in lasting ways. He named over 140 cardinals from outside Europe, shifting the Church’s centre of gravity towards the global South. His successor will inherit a far more international Catholic Church than the one he took over. He also led by example. Rather than living in the opulent Apostolic Palace, he chose a modest room in a nearby guesthouse built by Pope John Paul II. It was a deliberate rejection of grandeur. To Francis, humility mattered. "Look at the peacock," he once said. "It's beautiful if you look at it from the front. But if you look at it from behind, you discover the truth." His papacy aimed to refocus the Church’s mission—less on internal divisions, more on serving the poor, and on reconnecting with ordinary people. “We need to avoid the spiritual sickness of a Church that is wrapped up in its own world,” he warned early in his pontificate. "If I had to choose between a wounded Church that goes out on to the streets and a sick, withdrawn Church, I would choose the first."(With inputs from Agencies)

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1. Pope Francis has died, Vatican says in video statement  Times of India
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A day after Easter, Pope Francis passed away on Monday, announced the Vatican camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell.The head of Catholic Church, 88, was battling pneumonia for a few months now. A fourteen-day period of official mourning will commence, after which the Cardinals will gather in conclave to choose the next Vicar of Christ.“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,″ Farrell said in the announcement. “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, 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 God, One and Tribune.″His health had been a concern for some time, particularly after he spent five weeks in the hospital for pneumonia, from which he narrowly recovered. He was discharged on March 23. In the lead-up to his passing, he had missed significant Holy Week events for the first time since becoming pope in 2013, delegating many of his duties to cardinals.Pope had, on Sunday, wished the crowds on Saint Peter's Square a "Happy Easter" as he waved and in his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the City and the World") benediction he called for freedom of thought and tolerance.Also Read: What the Catholic Church does after a Pope diesNotably, he did not celebrate the Easter Mass in the piazza, delegating it to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica.However, after the Mass ended, Francis appeared on the loggia balcony over the basilica entrance for more than 20 minutes and imparted the apostolic blessing in Latin. The thousands of people below erupted in cheers as a military band kicked off rounds of the Holy See anthem. He interacted with attendees, and even gave chocolates to children.The Pope had also met US Vice President JD Vance on Easter morning at his Vatican residence. Who was Pope Francis?Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1969. After Pope Benedict XVI resigned on February 28, 2013, a papal conclave convened and elected Cardinal Bergoglio as the new pope on March 13. He took the name Francis in tribute to Saint Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, had a reign marked by division and tension as he sought to overhaul the often hidebound institution. He had suffered various ailments during his 12-year papacy.In his final sermon...In his final Easter sermon, Pope Francis addressed the faithful with a message of hope and compassion, expressing his solidarity with those suffering around the world. “Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!” he said, his voice reflecting a newfound strength following his recent hospitalization. The crowd responded enthusiastically with “Viva il Papa!” (Long live the Pope) as he shared his Easter message.The pontiff highlighted the “dramatic and deplorable” situation in Gaza, urging the Palestinian militant group Hamas to release its remaining hostages. He also condemned the “worrisome” trend of antisemitism globally, expressing his closeness to the sufferings of both the Israeli and Palestinian people. “I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace,” he said.Also Read: Pope Francis Death News Live UpdatesPope Francis emphasized the significance of Easter, the most joyful moment on the Christian liturgical calendar, when the faithful celebrate the resurrection of Christ. This year’s celebration was notably shared by both Catholics and Orthodox Christians, coinciding with Russia's announcement of a temporary Easter truce in its war in Ukraine.During the traditional Mass and the Urbi et Orbi blessing, delivered by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the pope's message encompassed a call for peace not only in Gaza and Ukraine but also in other conflict zones such as Congo and Myanmar. He implored, “May the risen Christ grant Ukraine, devastated by war, his Easter gift of peace, and encourage all parties involved to pursue efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace." He concluded with a hopeful wish for liberation: “In this Jubilee year, may Easter also be a fitting occasion for the liberation of prisoners of war and political prisoners!”

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पीटीआई, नई दिल्ली। सुप्रीम कोर्ट और सीजेआई के खिलाफ टिप्पणी करने वाले भाजपा सांसद निशिकांत दुबे की मुश्किलें लगातार बढ़ती जा रही है। अब दुबे के खिलाफ अवमानना याचिका दायर करने की मांग की गई है, जिसपर सुप्रीम कोर्ट का बड़ा बयान आया है। 

सुप्रीम कोर्ट की बड़ी टिप्पणी

अवमानना की कार्रवाई की मांग लेकर पहुंचे याचिकाकर्ता ने सुप्रीम कोर्ट से कहा कि दुबे ने सुप्रीम कोर्ट और भारत के मुख्य न्यायाधीश (सीजेआई) संजीव खन्ना की गलत तरीके से आलोचना कर अवमानना की है। इस पर सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने कहा कि केस करने के लिए आपको हमारी अनुमति की जरूरत नहीं है। 

अटॉर्नी जनरल से मंजूरी लेने की जरूरत

न्यायमूर्ति बी आर गवई और ऑगस्टीन जॉर्ज मसीह की पीठ से वकील ने दुबे की टिप्पणियों के बारे में हाल ही में आई एक खबर का हवाला दिया और कहा कि वह अदालत की अनुमति से अवमानना ​​याचिका दायर करना चाहते हैं। न्यायमूर्ति गवई ने कहा, "आप इसे दायर करें। दायर करने के लिए आपको हमारी अनुमति की जरूरत नहीं है।" 

पीठ ने कहा कि याचिकाकर्ता को मामले में अटॉर्नी जनरल से मंजूरी लेने की जरूरत है। 

दुबे ने CJI पर की थी विवादित टिप्पणी

दुबे ने शनिवार को सुप्रीम कोर्ट पर निशाना साधते हुए कहा कि अगर सुप्रीम कोर्ट को कानून बनाना है तो संसद और राज्य विधानसभाओं को बंद कर देना चाहिए। उन्होंने सीजेआई खन्ना पर भी कटाक्ष किया और उन्हें देश में 'गृह युद्धों' के लिए जिम्मेदार ठहराया। 

क्या है मामला?

दरअसल, दुबे की टिप्पणी केंद्र के न्यायालय को दिए गए आश्वासन के बाद आई है कि वह वक्फ (संशोधन) अधिनियम के कुछ विवादास्पद प्रावधानों को सुनवाई के अगले दिन तक लागू नहीं करेगा, क्योंकि न्यायालय ने उन पर सवाल उठाए थे।

इसके बाद वक्फ अधिनियम मामले में एक वादी का प्रतिनिधित्व करने वाले सुप्रीम कोर्ट के वकील अनस तनवीर ने अटॉर्नी जनरल आर वेंकटरमणी को पत्र लिखकर दुबे के खिलाफ अवमानना ​​कार्यवाही शुरू करने की सहमति मांगी, क्योंकि उन्होंने शीर्ष न्यायालय की गरिमा को ठेस पहुंचाने वाली टिप्पणी की थी।

भाजपा अध्यक्ष जेपी नड्डा ने दी थी सफाई

उधर, भाजपा ने शनिवार को दुबे की सर्वोच्च न्यायालय की आलोचना से खुद को अलग कर लिया, पार्टी अध्यक्ष जे पी नड्डा ने टिप्पणियों को उनका निजी विचार बताया। नड्डा ने कहा कि उन्होंने पार्टी नेताओं को ऐसी टिप्पणियां न करने का निर्देश दिया है।

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