The supreme leader of the Catholic Church and Head of State of the Vatican, Pope Francis, passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 07.35 local time in Vatican. 

The passing of Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, was officially conveyed by Cardinal Kevin Farrell via a live broadcast on Vatican TV, as quoted by Reuters.

"Dear brothers and sisters, it is with deep sadness that I must announce the death of our Holy Father, Francis. At 07.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father's house," said Cardinal Farrell.

Pope Francis, whose real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died at the age of 88 after battling double pneumonia, a serious infection that attacks both lungs. Previously, he had been treated for chronic bronchitis in February and was discharged from the hospital on March 23. His health condition had deteriorated again in recent weeks, until he finally breathed his last on Monday morning.

Pope Francis is known as a figure who dares to push for major reforms within the Catholic Church, often speaking out in defense of the marginalized, and trying to bridge differences of opinion amidst internal church turmoil. His leadership was often marked by tension and controversy, but was also welcomed as an era of openness and deep social concern.

Pope Francis' last visit to Indonesia last year was also a historic moment and received an extraordinary welcome from the public. The final tribute ceremony and funeral schedule are scheduled to be announced by the Vatican in the near future.

Deep condolences

Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar expressed his deep condolences for the passing of Pope Francis. In his official statement, the Minister of Religion remembered Pope Francis as a friendly figure who had made a major contribution to strengthening interfaith relations, especially between Indonesia and the Vatican.

"I express my deepest condolences for the passing of Pope Francis. Of course, we cannot forget his services and friendship," Nasaruddin said in Jakarta, on Monday, April 21, 2025.

The Minister of Religious Affairs also prayed that Pope Francis would receive the best place in God's sight for all the good deeds he had done during his life.

The relationship between Nasaruddin Umar and Pope Francis was indeed close. The two have met on several occasions, including during the Pope's visit to Indonesia in 2024. During the visit, Pope Francis visited the Istiqlal Mosque and signed a joint statement in the framework of the Istiqlal Declaration.

"He just visited Indonesia, including visiting the Istiqlal Mosque and giving a very global joint statement," Nasaruddin said.

He added that during the visit, Pope Francis expressed his commitment to peace and humanity. The Minister of Religious Affairs hopes that the cooperation between Indonesia and the Vatican that Pope Francis has pioneered can continue.