Active to the end, Pope Francis appeared in St. Peter’s Square day before death

News of Pope Francis passing came shortly after a busy Easter weekend in Vatican City during which the pontiff appeared in St Peter s Square to give a traditional Easter blessing The pope passed away at Monday morning in Rome bells tolled in church towers across that city after the announcement from the Vatican Although Pope Francis did not preside over Easter mass on Sunday he did address the crowd from the main balcony of St Peter s Basilica appearing for more than minutes where he imparted the apostolic blessing in Latin He then took a -minute ride around the square in his open-topped Popemobile where worshippers cheered him on the pontiff occasionally stopping to bless babies brought up to him While Francis did not preside over Easter mass he did prepare a homily in which he urged believers to search for Jesus in their daily lives This morning the Vatican s Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell made the announcement of the Pope s passing saying Dear brothers and sisters with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis At this morning the Bishop of Rome Francis returned to the house of the Father His whole life was dedicated to the provision of the Lord and His Church He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity courage and universal love especially in favour of the poorest and the majority marginalized With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the Triune God Francis was the th pope His papacy lasted years