Pope of peace dies at 88 after final plea for ceasefire in Gaza
Pope Francis, a tireless advocate for Palestinians and peace in the Middle East, dies just hours after condemning the war in Gaza in his final Easter message
VATICAN CITY (MNTV) — Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and a global moral voice for justice and peace, died Monday morning at the age of 88 in his Vatican residence, Casa Santa Marta.
The Vatican confirmed the death in a statement read by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, saying, “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
His death comes just hours after delivering a powerful Easter address, where he condemned the “terrible conflict” in Gaza and appealed for an immediate ceasefire.
The message, read on his behalf by Archbishop Diego Ravelli from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, decried the relentless Israeli bombardment, stating: “It is not targets that are struck, but persons, each possessed of a soul and human dignity.”
According to Vatican News in his final words to the world, Francis warned against the cruelty of wars that “attack schools, hospitals, and humanitarian workers.”
The pope’s stance on the war was firm and deeply empathetic—a reflection of a decade-long commitment to the Palestinian cause.
Palestinian theologian Reverend Munther Isaac, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, called Francis “a true voice of compassion,” highlighting the Pope’s constant contact with the Christian community in besieged Gaza, even calling from his hospital bed.
“The Pope left, and the occupation and the wall remained. But we were left with a renewed sense of hope—knowing that we are not forgotten,” Isaac said in a tribute published Monday.
Hamas official Basem Naim also issued a statement mourning the pope, calling him “a steadfast advocate for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,” and praising his “unwavering stance against war and acts of genocide.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas echoed the sentiment, calling the pontiff “a faithful friend of Palestine.”
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, Pope Francis became the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to lead the Church.
His papacy, which began in March 2013, was marked by humility, social justice advocacy, and a deep commitment to interfaith dialogue—especially with the Muslim world.
From the outset, Francis positioned himself as a “Pope of the Poor,” visiting refugee camps, denouncing the arms trade, and urging global solidarity with displaced peoples, including Palestinians.
Middle East connections
Francis made historic visits across the Middle East, becoming the first pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula in 2019. His travels included:
- Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Turkiye in 2014
- Egypt in 2017
- Morocco and UAE in 2019
- Iraq in 2021
- Bahrain in 2022
In each visit, Francis pressed for peace and religious tolerance. His 2014 visit to Bethlehem saw him praying at the Israeli separation wall—an image that became iconic in Palestine.
Later that year, he invited Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the Vatican, facilitating an unprecedented prayer meeting where both leaders committed to dialogue.
In recent months, Francis had taken perhaps his boldest stance yet. In September 2024, he described Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as “immoral,” and in November called for an international legal review into whether it amounted to genocide:
“We should investigate carefully to determine whether it fits into the technical definition,” he told journalists at the Vatican.
Despite declining health—he was hospitalised in February with double pneumonia—Francis remained active.
According to Vatican Radio, he was discharged in March, but his health never fully recovered. Yet even from his hospital bed, he kept daily contact with Gaza’s only Catholic parish, led by Father Gabriel Romanelli.
His final public appearance came on Easter Sunday, April 20, when he blessed the crowd in St. Peter’s Square. The next morning, he passed away quietly.
Francis’s decade as pope was transformative. While he upheld certain Church traditions—such as opposing same-sex marriage and rejecting the ordination of women priests—he broke ground by admitting women as lectors and acolytes, and confronting the Church’s past with unflinching honesty.
He apologized for the Church’s role in Indigenous abuses in Canada, which he termed “cultural genocide,” and took concrete action against clergy sex abuse.
He also criticized global capitalism, warned of AI dangers, and consistently urged world leaders to address the climate crisis.
With the pope’s death, the Catholic Church enters a period of mourning.
A conclave of 138 cardinal-electors will soon meet in Vatican City to elect a successor. The process will include four votes per day until a new pope secures a two-thirds majority.
As the Church prepares to select its next leader, millions around the globe—including Palestinians—will remember Francis as a spiritual leader, who was unafraid to speak truth to power and who stood, until his final breath, for the dignity of every human life.
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