Pope Francis has died
22 April 2025
Pope Francis I, the 266th pope in the history of the Catholic Church, was elected to the papacy on March 13, 2013, to replace Benedict XVI, who resigned from office two weeks earlier.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. Before his seminary education, he worked as a janitor, a bouncer and a lab technician for a chemist before entering the Society of Jesus in 1958. After finishing his initial training, Bergoglio took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, and became a Jesuit on March 12, 1960. He was ordained to the priesthood almost a decade later in December 1969. He also held advanced degrees in chemistry, philosophy and theology.
Before coming to Rome, Bergoglio served several roles as bishop in Argentina, including Metropolitan Archbishop. He was made a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II and held several administrative positions within the Roman Curia, the central governing body of the Catholic Church.
Regarded as a great reformer of the Catholic Church, Francis was known for his message of tolerance and love. He will be remembered for his efforts to promote unity between Catholics and devotees of other religions, and for his historic apologies to survivors of clergy sexual abuse. His 2015 papal encyclical Laudato si’ (“Praise Be to You”), which addressed the climate crisis, challenges all people to praise God for his creation, and to work together to safeguard Earth.
Pope Francis I died on 21st April 2025, of a stroke and heart failure after a prolonged respiratory illness and pneumonia.
You can view our curated selection of images here.
As is customary on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Pope Francis baptizes 16 children under the Michelangelo’s frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. - Vatican. January 7, 2024. AKG10620287 © Vatican Media / akg-images
Pope Francis attends an interreligious meeting with young people from a host of religions and faith traditions at Singapore's Catholic Junior College in Singapore on September 13, 2024. AKG11157212 © Vatican Media / akg-images
Diego Maradona gives to Pope Francis a light blue-and-white jersey with his Argentine national team number 10 and the name Francisco on it at the Vatican on September 1, 2014. AKG8441425 © Eric Vandeville / akg-images
Pope Francis visits the ward where children who arrived from Ukraine, are hospitalized at Bambino Gesu Hospital. Rome (Italy), March 19th, 2022. AKG9368168 © akg-images / Mondadori Portfolio/Vatican Media/Pool/GG
Pope Francis speaks with journalists on the papal flight for the southern French city of Marseille on September 22, 2023 for the conclusion of the ‘Mediterranean Meetings’. AKG10305335 © Vatican Media / akg-images
Taking the chef completely by surprise, Pope Francis unexpectedly showed up to eat with the Vatican's blue-collar workers at their cafeteria in the tiny city-state's 'industrial park' at the Vatican on July 25, 2014. AKG8549639 © Eric Vandeville / akg-images
The pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) meeting the Anglican community at the church of Ognissanti. Rome, Italy. 26th February 2017. AKG6115219 © akg-images / Mondadori Portfolio/Archivio Grzegorz Galazka/Grzegorz Galazka
General audience of Pope Francis - May 26, 2021. AKG8874530 © akg-images / Mondadori Portfolio/Archivio Grzegorz Galazka/Grzegorz Galazka
Pope Francis met with Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, one of the Muslim world’s leading authorities on March 6, 2021 in Najaf, Iraq. AKG8652862 © Vatican Media / akg-images
Easter 2024: Pope Francis - Easter message Urbi et Orbi - Vatican. AKG10844354 © Eric Vandeville / akg-images
Pope Francis leads a giant mass at the Velodrome Stadium of Marseille, France on September 23, 2023. AKG10305452 © Vatican Media / akg-images
Mattia Villardita wearing a Spider-Man costume, who performs in hospitals for sick children, hands a Spider-Man mask to Pope Francis as they meet at the end of the weekly general audience at The Vatican. AKG10420291 © Antoine Mekary / Godong / akg-images
Holy Mass on the Solemnity of Pentecost celebrated by Pope Francis. Vatican City (Vatican), May 31st 2020. AKG8260264 © akg-images / Mondadori Portfolio/Archivio Grzegorz Galazka/Grzegorz Galazka
Pope Francis Leads Global Prayer Vigil for Peace In Syria, Vatican, 2013. AKG5409097 © Eric Vandeville / akg-imagesPrivate Life of the Vatican: The Vatican no longer has any secrets for photographer Eric Vandeville. He has lived in Rome for 20 years and has enjoyed access given to few as a photographer of this city-state in the heart of Rome. These images will take you on a behind-the-scenes tour.
