The Antigua and Barbuda Roman Catholic community is today mourning the death of their spiritual leader, Pope Francis, who died Easter Monday at 7:35 am, in the Vatican (Rome). He was 88 years old.
Hail as a progressive leader, who sought to transform much of the church’s stance on many social issues, Pope Francis was widely loved and celebrated across the globe. He was the first Pope elected from Latin America and was a member of the Jesuits community.
He was hospitalized for nearly two months earlier this year for complications related to double pneumonia and was therefore in frail health. However, on Easter Sunday, he surprised the crowd at St. Peter’s Square by making a brief appearance and offering blessings in a weakened voice.
He also held a brief meeting with the visiting US Vice President, JD Vance.
Those two appearances gave many hope that he was on the mend, so the news on Monday morning of his passing sent shock waves throughout the Catholic community worldwide and the rest of humanity.
Here in Antigua and Barbuda, Bishop Robert Llanos of the Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre, said Pope Francis’ papacy represented a major transformation for the Catholic Church and that he was the ‘voice of truth and justice’ for the wider world. He said there’s no denying the humility and courage of a man who set out to transform the world by the witness of his own life in Christ. “His determination has left us a legacy from which we may draw strength and hope for the future of Catholicism and with gratitude in our hearts we give glory to God, for the gift of Pope Francis; May he rest in Peace,” Bishop Llanos stated.
The Vatican said he died of a stroke and a subsequent irreversible heart failure.
His death begins an official period of mourning, expected to be for two weeks, which will be followed by the traditional Conclave, a gathering of all the Cardinals for the sacred rites of the election of a new pope.
