Funeral preparations are underway at the Vatican as millions around the world prepare to honor Pope Francis, who died this morning after serving for more than 12 years.
The pope had long been dealing with health problems, including pneumonia and type 2 diabetes. According to his death certificate, he died of a stroke that caused irreversible heart damage.
"Everyone here is sad, but also grateful for what he's been able to do during his time as pope," said a Vatican official.
Pope Francis made one last appearance yesterday on Easter Sunday, greeting people in St. Peter's Square. On Monday, a prayer service was held there in his honor, with hundreds of people paying their respects.
Phil and Paige LeBoutillier from Fort Myers were among those who saw the pope during Easter Mass at the Vatican.
"We were very fortunate. We got there very early, so we were probably 15 rows from the main altar, just off on the right-hand side," they said. "Then they kind of drove him around through the crowds of the people that were sitting in the congregation, through them, through the mass."
The pope, who has served as the head of the Catholic Church since 2013, was known for his humility and modern views. He was from Argentina, making him the first pope from the Americas. In 2023, he declared that being homosexual is not a crime and approved blessings for same-sex marriages. He also advocated for environmental protection and more compassionate immigration policies. He had just returned to the Vatican following a 38-day stay in the hospital with a lung infection.
Phil and Paige LeBoutillier recalled the moment they learned of the Pope's death.
"It was at 10:22. And you just heard these bells throughout — I'm getting goosebumps thinking about this — but you heard these bells go off everywhere. And I was like, what is that? She just looks at me and puts both of her arms on my shoulders [...] and she goes, the pope just passed. And I just looked at her and said, no. And with that, she kind of turned around and kind of burst into tears a little bit."
Former U.S. representative and ambassador to the Holy See, Francis Rooney, said Pope Francis had a major impact worldwide.
"He kind of changed the dialogue a little bit by broadening it and reaching out to the needs of migrants and marginalized people, people that sometimes the leaders of the church don't want to talk about. And he talked about them openly like homosexuals, like divorce, people getting communion. You know, a lot of things that are, I think most Catholics would say are pretty, pretty worthwhile movements," Rooney said.
Pope Francis' body will lie in state at St. Peter's Basilica until his funeral in four to six days. The conclave to choose the next pope will follow in about 20 days.
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