Pope Francis has died aged 88, the Vatican confirmed.
By Bill Heaney
Pope Francis has died aged 88 following weeks of health issues, the Vatican has confirmed.
The Vatican said in a statement on Monday morning: “At 7:35 this morning (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.”
The pope had been treated in hospital in recent months for pneumonia and a complex lung infection.
Francis had long battled health problems; he had part of one lung removed as a young man and suffered long bouts of acute bronchitis in winter.
He was elected pope in 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, pictured right.
Originally born in Argentina as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he chose Francis as his Papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Pope Francis delivered his blessing from the window of his private library overlooking St Peter’s Square in 2020.
Francis was the first pope from South America and the first from the Jesuit order – a Roman Catholic order known for its educational and charitable works.
The son of Italian immigrants rose to prominence in Argentina after strongly criticising capitalism during a financial crisis which rocked the country in 2001.
He often stressed the role of the Church in serving the poor and marginalised, and was seen to soften the Church’s line towards issues such as divorce.
He also promoted unity between Catholics, non-Catholics and non-Christians and apologised for the child abuse scandal in the Church.
On hearing news of the Pope’s death, Archbishop William Nolan of Glasgow archdiocese, pictured right, which stretches from Clydebank through Dumbarton, Vale of Leven and Helensburgh to Rosneath and Arrochar, said:
“I share the sense of loss of millions of people around the globe at the passing of Pope Francis. Sadness is our first and most natural reaction at a time like this.
“The whole Church, and indeed the wider world should be very grateful to God for the gift of this Pope. Although his pontificate has been controversial at times it has been a blessing for the Church and for wider society.
“He will be remembered for many things … but his emphasis on the great love and mercy of God and his reminder to the Church that it should always bring God’s mercy and love to all was perhaps his most repeated call.
“He did not see the Church as a tribunal sitting in judgement of the world, but rather what he called a ‘field hospital’ tending to the wounds and hurts of human beings.
“When he visited the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome shortly after his election, he called out to the priests in the confessionals, ‘Mercy. Forgive everyone. Always mercy …’ and that was his trademark message.
“He used his ability to speak to people in a language they understood to great effect. That partly explains his huge popularity. He had no pomposity or sense of superiority about him, indeed he was forever asking people to pray for him.
“His constant call to governments and individuals to care for the earth, our common home, was a key strand of his message. Another was the ever-timely call to welcome the refugee and asylum seeker, and to recognise the human dignity of the poor and less fortunate.
“I remember his powerful exhortation to us … when we give alms to someone who is begging on the streets, not to casually toss a coin in their direction, but to get down to their level, to look them in the eye, to touch their hand and to express care and fraternal love.
Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson, pictured left, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, paid this tribute to Pope Francis: “May I express my condolences to the Catholic Church in Scotland following the news of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. We recall with gratitude the hospitality extended by His Holiness to representatives of the Church of Scotland and also the occasion of the Ecumenical Pilgrimage of Peace made by Pope Francis to South Sudan in the company of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2023.
“In recalling his contribution to Christian witness, we hear renewed the call made by His Holiness in Laudato si’ to care for the earth as our common home, and in Fratelli tutti to discover the presence of Christ in each human being. We join with all Christian people in the prayer of Pope Francis:
Grant that we Christians may live the Gospel, discovering Christ in each human being, recognizing him crucified in the sufferings of the abandoned and forgotten of our world, and risen in each brother or sister who makes a new start. Amen.
“May the blessed memory of Francis continue to serve as an example to the faithful people of God in our shared pilgrimage and in our common task of caring for God’s creation. May he rest in peace.
Francis had long battled health problems; he had part of one lung removed as a young man and suffered long bouts of acute bronchitis in winter.
On hearing news of the Pope’s death, Archbishop William Nolan of Glasgow archdiocese, pictured right, which stretches from Clydebank through Dumbarton, Vale of Leven and Helensburgh to Rosneath and Arrochar, said:
