Skip to content

The last time the world saw Pope Francis

Pope Francis greeted the faithful around the world for the last time from St. Peter’s Basilica on the most important day for Christians: Easter, the heart and foundation of the Catholic faith that proclaims Christ’s triumph over sin and death.

Pope Francis greeted the faithful around the world for the last time from St. Peter’s Basilica on the most important day for Christians: Easter, the heart and foundation of the Catholic faith that proclaims Christ’s triumph over sin and death.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER HERE

On the morning of April 20, before tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis appeared from the central loggia of the basilica to deliver his Easter message.

“Dear brothers and sisters: Happy Easter!” Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News
“Dear brothers and sisters: Happy Easter!” Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

His face marked by fatigue and his voice broken by his difficulty breathing, the Holy Father delivered with great effort what would be his last blessing: “Dear brothers and sisters: Happy Easter!” A day later, on the morning of April 21, Pope Francis died at the age of 88.

Pope Francis imparts the urbi et orbi blessing on Easter Sunday 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News
Pope Francis imparts the urbi et orbi blessing on Easter Sunday 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

In his Easter message, read Sunday by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of pontifical ceremonies, the Holy Father expressed his profound longing for peace and hoped “that the principle of humanity as its cardinal axis may never fail.”

“On this day, I would like us to once again hope and trust in others — even those who are not close to us or who come from distant lands, with customs, lifestyles, ideas, and habits different from those we are most familiar with — for we are all children of God,” Pope Francis expressed.

At the end of his message, the pontiff gave the faithful one of those “surprises” that have characterized the final days of his pontificate since he was discharged from Gemelli Hospital in Rome on March 23.

Pope Francis reaches out to a child on April 20, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Francis reaches out to a child on April 20, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis made the circuit of the packed square for about 20 minutes, greeting the 35,000 faithful with affection and warmth from the popemobile, the crowd reciprocating with applause and cheers, a scene captured for posterity.

Pope Francis greets Carmela Mancuso, the renowned "lady with the yellow flowers," on April 20, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Francis greets Carmela Mancuso, the renowned “lady with the yellow flowers,” on April 20, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Since his discharge from the hospital, Pope Francis appeared in public on several occasions, always unexpectedly, without an official public agenda.

Although he was not expected to receive large groups or hold audiences during his convalescence, he reappeared for the first time on April 6 to participate in the Jubilee of the Sick.

He also held a private meeting with the British monarchs after the cancellation of their official visit to the Vatican, and on April 10, he surprised everyone with a visit, without papal attire, to St. Peter’s Basilica to pray at the tomb of St. Pius X.

The Holy Father also visited St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome to pray before the icon of the Virgin Mary, “Salus Populi Romani” (“Protection of the Roman People”), to whom he always held a great devotion. On Palm Sunday, he could be seen without nasal cannulas greeting the cardinals and faithful at the end of Mass.

Pope Francis meets with inmates in a surprise visit to the Regina Coeli Prison on Holy Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Rome. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Francis meets with inmates in a surprise visit to the Regina Coeli Prison on Holy Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Rome. Credit: Vatican Media

Just five days ago, he visited Rome’s Regina Coeli prison on the afternoon of Holy Thursday to meet with 70 inmates. He also reappeared at the Vatican basilica on Holy Saturday to be close to the faithful who were about to celebrate the Easter Vigil.

In addition, on April 16, he received at the Vatican 70 members of the medical teams of Gemelli Hospital to thank them for their care during his hospitalization.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Live Updates following the Pope’s Passing

Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today

Share

Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican

Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.

More news related to this article

Cardinal Parolin: Attack on church in Democratic Republic of Congo a ‘dangerous sign’

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Monday expressed his concern over the July 27 attack on a Catholic church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

French bishops vote to open sainthood cause of Henri de Lubac

French bishops have voted to open the sainthood cause of 20th-century theologian Henri de Lubac. The French bishops’

Pope Francis recalls ‘the primary reason’ for the new edition of YouCat

“Love is the primary reason for the existence of the Church,” Pope Francis begins the letter accompanying the

Pope Francis’ praise for St. Catherine of Siena

On the feast of St. Catherine of Siena in 2021, Pope Francis expressed his hope that the “great female figure of faith” would continue to inspire a more joyful and fervent witness.

Prison is where ‘I learned to be a priest,’ chaplain says after 23 years of service

Father Raffaele Grimaldi emphasized during a meeting with journalists near the Vatican that the Holy Father knows “that those who have made mistakes need us to give them a hand so that they can get back on track.”

Pope Francis to young people: Prepare yourselves for marriage, don’t get divorced

In an exhortation to young people published after his death, Pope Francis urged couples to prepare properly for marriage and commit themselves to “love that lasts a lifetime.”

LIVE
FROM THE VATICAN

Be present live on EWTN.it