Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025—Easter Monday, also known as Monday of the Angel. His death, full of rich symbolism, reflects a life wholly rooted in the mystery of Christ. Here are some of the “God-incidences” that reveal his passing as a profound spiritual message.
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1. He Died on “Monday of the Angel”
This day commemorates the angel’s announcement of Christ’s Resurrection to the women at the tomb. Pope Francis had a deep devotion to the Guardian Angel and once said:
“Let us call upon them frequently in prayer, so that they may help us in every situation in our lives and help us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, our only salvation.”
2. He Died During the Easter Octave
The Easter Octave is the Church’s most joyful time—eight days of celebrating Christ’s victory over death. Pope Francis not only preached the joy of the Resurrection but lived it to the very end:
“Brothers and sisters, this is the call that, especially in this Jubilee Year, we must feel deeply within us: let us sow the hope of Easter in our lives and in the world!”
3. His Last Public Appearance Was on Easter Sunday
Despite his evident frailty, Pope Francis offered the Urbi et Orbi blessing on Easter Sunday. In his homily, he proclaimed the hope that sustained him:
“This is the greatest hope of our life: we can live this poor, fragile, and wounded existence clinging to Christ, because He has conquered death… to make us live with Him in joy, forever.”
4. His Body Was Taken to St. Peter’s Basilica on His Name Day
April 23, the feast of St. George—patron of Jorge Mario Bergoglio—was the day his body was transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica. Pope Francis often invoked St. George in speaking about the spiritual battle against evil, a central theme of his pontificate. Tens of thousands are coming to honor him as he lies in state in the heart of the Church.
5. His Burial Will Take Place on the Eve of Divine Mercy Sunday
Mercy was the cornerstone of Pope Francis’s papacy. His motto, Miserando atque eligendo (“He looked upon him with mercy and chose him”), and his proclamation of the Jubilee Year of Mercy in 2015 highlight its central place in his mission.
“The mercy of God is our liberation and our happiness. We live by mercy and cannot afford to live without it… We need to forgive, because we need to be forgiven.”
His burial on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday is a fitting tribute to the pope of mercy.
6. He Died One Day Before the Feast of Mary, Mother of the Society of Jesus
As the first Jesuit pope, Francis’s death on the eve of this feast—celebrated April 22—holds special meaning. It recalls the 1541 vows of St. Ignatius and his companions before an image of Mary at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Jesuits have since honored her as the Mother of their mission.
In his spiritual testament, Francis expressed his lifelong trust in Mary:
“I have always entrusted my life and my priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Most Holy Mary. Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest… in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.”
“I wish for my final earthly journey to end precisely in this ancient Marian shrine, where I went to pray at the beginning and end of every Apostolic Journey.”
7. His Funeral will be a Mini “World Youth Day”
Pope Francis made history as the first Pope to beatify a millennial, Carlo Acutis, and also to approve his canonization. Acutis, who passed away at a young age, has become a modern-day inspiration for many young Catholics, especially those who grew up during Pope Francis’s papacy. In a profound and meaningful moment, tens of thousands of young people, who were nurtured in the faith under the guidance of Pope Francis, will gather in Rome for the late Pope’s funeral.
The presence of the “Francis Generation” will create a unique and powerful atmosphere, resembling a mini World Youth Day, as they come together to honor the Pope who championed their generation and encouraged them to live their faith with zeal and joy. This gathering will undoubtedly reflect the deep bond Francis shared with the youth, who were always a central focus of his ministry.
Even in death, Pope Francis pointed the world toward the hope of the Resurrection, the mercy of God, and the tender love of the Blessed Virgin Mary—his lifelong companions on the journey of faith.
This article was originally published by ACI Prensa, Jacob Stein translated and adapted for EWTN Vatican.
