Pope Francis, the first Latino leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on April 21, 2025 at the age of 88.
Despite his old age and weakness, Pope Francis still spent his last days to fulfill his mission of serving the Church, during the meaningful Resurrection week in the Vatican.
Although he cannot preside over the main rituals during the New Year and Christmas, he is still present in many different ways, from short visits to prison in Rome (Italy), to the traditional Urbiet Orbi blessing on Christmas Sunday morning (April 20).
According to CNN, on the evening of April 19, Pope Francis visited the Basilica of Saint Peter, and the next morning, he appeared on the central balcony of the cathedral to bless the blessing "Urbi et Orbi" to the city of Rome and the whole world, one of the most solemn rituals of the Catholic Church.
Although the speech was read by an assistant, only the Pope had the right to perform this blessing ceremony, along with All-meriterness for the believers.
After the Mass, He moved around St. Peter's Square in a "popemobile", waving and smiling at the crowd waving the flag, calling out His name in emotion. It was the first time since his hospitalization that the Pope has become close to the believers in such a way.
In particular, Pope Francis also had a short meeting with US Vice President JD Vance, who became the last foreign leader to meet the Pope before he died on April 21.
It is extraordinary for the popes to be present at the most sacred moment of the service year, which is Christmas, and then leave immediately after. That is appropriate, because the message of Resurrection is death and resurrection, shared CNN journalist Christopher Lamb, a founder of Vatican Watch from Rome.
