Pope Francis Age: How Old Was He When He Died?
Pope Francis was 88 years old when he died on April 21, 2025. Born on December 17, 1936, he lived for exactly 88 years, four months, and four days.
The Vatican announced that the pontiff died at his residence in Casa Santa Marta on Easter Monday, only a day after appearing before worshippers in St. Peter’s Square. His death brought an end to a papacy that lasted just over 12 years.
Pope Francis Age at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jorge Mario Bergoglio |
| Date of birth | December 17, 1936 |
| Birthplace | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Date of death | April 21, 2025 |
| Age at death | 88 years old |
| Exact age | 88 years, four months, and four days |
| Date elected pope | March 13, 2013 |
| Age when elected | 76 years old |
| Length of papacy | 12 years, one month, and eight days |
| Funeral date | April 26, 2025 |
| Burial place | Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Rome |
The Pope Francis birth date, election date, and end of his pontificate are recorded in official Vatican documents.
How Old Was Pope Francis When He Died?
The simple answer is that Pope Francis died at 88. He had celebrated his final birthday on December 17, 2024, about four months before his death.
For readers searching for the exact age of Pope Francis, the full calculation is 88 years, four months, and four days. Although he was living through his 89th year, his completed age was 88.
This is why reliable reports describe the Pope Francis age at death as 88 rather than 89. The Vatican used the same figure when announcing his death on April 21, 2025.
His age also made him one of the oldest serving popes in verifiable history. Reuters reported that he was the second-oldest sitting pope, behind Pope Leo XIII, who remained in office until his death at 93.
When Was Pope Francis Born?
Pope Francis was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His birth name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio.
He grew up in an Argentine family with Italian roots. His father, Mario, worked as a railway accountant, while his mother, Regina Sivori, cared for the family’s five children. Before following his religious calling, Bergoglio trained as a chemical technician.
People searching for Pope Francis’s birthday may also come across December 17 as an important date throughout his papacy. He often marked the occasion quietly rather than holding an elaborate personal celebration.
After deciding to enter religious life, he joined the Jesuit novitiate in 1958. That path would eventually take him from Buenos Aires to Rome and make him the first member of the Society of Jesus to become pope.
When and Where Did Pope Francis Die?
Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, at 7:35 a.m. local time. It was Easter Monday.
He died in his apartment at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, commonly known as Casa Santa Marta, inside Vatican City. Rather than living in the traditional papal apartments, Francis had chosen to remain in this Vatican guesthouse after his election.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, publicly announced the Pope’s death later that morning.
The timing made the news particularly striking. Francis had appeared in public the previous day for Easter Sunday, greeting worshippers gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
What Was Pope Francis’s Cause of Death?
The Vatican’s official medical report identified the cause of Pope Francis’s death as a cerebral stroke.
The stroke was followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse. His death was formally confirmed using electrocardiographic thanatography, a method that records the absence of heart activity over a set period.
The report also listed several existing medical conditions. These included a previous episode of acute respiratory failure linked to bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure and Type II diabetes.
Although Francis had recently experienced serious respiratory problems, the Vatican distinguished those earlier illnesses from the immediate Pope Francis cause of death, which was the stroke and the complications that followed it.
Pope Francis’s Health During His Final Months
Questions about Pope Francis’s health had grown during the opening months of 2025.
On February 14, he entered Rome’s Gemelli Hospital with a respiratory infection. His condition developed into bilateral pneumonia, sometimes described as double pneumonia, and became the most serious health crisis of his papacy.
Francis remained in the hospital for 38 days. During that time, Vatican medical updates described a complex illness that required respiratory treatment and close observation. He was discharged on March 23 and returned to Casa Santa Marta to continue recovering.
His doctors recommended an extended period of rest. Even after leaving the hospital, he continued receiving respiratory and physical therapy because the illness had affected his breathing, voice and overall strength.
Why did Pope Francis use a wheelchair?
The Pope Francis wheelchair searches that became common in his later years were connected mainly to long-standing mobility problems.
He experienced persistent knee pain and also suffered from sciatica, a nerve condition that can cause pain through the back, hips and legs. He frequently used a wheelchair, walking stick or cane so he could continue attending meetings and public ceremonies.
His use of a wheelchair was not itself evidence that he was close to death. It reflected physical limitations that he had managed for several years while continuing to travel and carry out papal duties.
Pope Francis’s Last Public Appearance
The last public appearance of Pope Francis took place on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025.
He appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the traditional Urbi et Orbi Easter message and blessing. His greeting was brief, and an aide read most of the prepared message on his behalf.
Francis then traveled through St. Peter’s Square in the popemobile, greeting people who had gathered for the Easter celebration. The appearance came less than 24 hours before his death.
The moment carried added significance after his long hospital stay. Despite his visible frailty, he chose to be present for one of the most important days in the Catholic calendar.
How Long Was Pope Francis the Pope?
Pope Francis became pope on March 13, 2013, and remained the leader of the Catholic Church until his death on April 21, 2025.
His pontificate lasted 12 years, one month, and eight days. That was longer than the average length of the papacies that came before his.
The former Cardinal Bergoglio was elected by the conclave following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. At 76, he was older than many modern papal candidates, but he went on to lead the Church well into his late 80s.
His election produced several historic firsts. Francis was the:
- First Jesuit pope
- First Latin American pope
- First pope from the Americas
- First pontiff to take the name Francis
- First pope born outside Europe in more than a millennium
The Vatican officially identifies him as the 266th pope of the Catholic Church.
What Happened After Pope Francis Died?
After the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church entered the period known as the sede vacante, meaning the papal seat was vacant.
His body was transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on April 23, where the public could pay their respects. Around 250,000 people visited during the three days of public viewing before the funeral.
The Church also began its traditional mourning period, while cardinals gathered in Rome to handle administrative matters and prepare for the conclave that would elect a successor.
Pope Francis’s Funeral and Burial
The Pope Francis funeral was held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presided over the funeral Mass, which was attended by clergy, government leaders, royal representatives and large crowds of mourners. After the service, the coffin was taken through Rome to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
Francis became the first pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican.
His choice of Pope Francis burial place reflected his strong devotion to the Marian icon Salus Populi Romani, which is housed inside Saint Mary Major. He had regularly visited the basilica before and after major overseas journeys.
His written testament requested a simple tomb set into the ground. He asked for no elaborate decoration and wanted only the Latin form of his papal name, Franciscus, placed on it. The completed tomb also carries a reproduction of his pectoral cross.
Who Is the Oldest Pope to Ever Live?
Pope Benedict XVI was the longest-lived verified person to have held the papal office. He died on December 31, 2022, at the age of 95.
However, Benedict was no longer the serving pope when he reached that age. He resigned in 2013 at age 85 and spent the remaining years of his life as Pope Emeritus.
The oldest serving pope whose age can be reliably verified was Pope Leo XIII. He remained pope until his death in 1903 at the age of 93 years and 140 days.
Some much older ages have been attributed to popes from the early centuries of the Church, but the birth records needed to verify those claims are incomplete.
What Is the Pope’s Salary?
The pope does not receive a conventional fixed salary like an employee of a company or government department.
The Vatican covers the pope’s official and everyday needs, including accommodation, meals, transportation, security, healthcare and work-related travel. Funds are also available for reasonable personal expenses, but the arrangement is not usually described as a regular Pope salary.
During his pontificate, Pope Francis’s salary was often discussed online, sometimes alongside unsupported claims about large monthly payments. In practice, Francis lived modestly at Casa Santa Marta and explained that he asked for money when he needed to purchase personal necessities.
So, does the pope get paid? Not in the ordinary sense. His expenses are covered because of the office he holds, while access to personal spending money is handled through the Vatican.
How Old Was Pope Francis When He Became a Pope?
Pope Francis was 76 years old when he became pope on March 13, 2013.
More precisely, the Pope Francis age when elected was 76 years, two months, and 24 days. His 77th birthday came later that year on December 17.
The Vatican’s official biography confirms that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected the 266th pope at age 76 by the cardinals gathered in conclave.
He was older at his election than several recent popes. Even so, his pontificate continued for more than 12 years and included extensive international travel, major Church reforms and the appointment of cardinals from a wider range of countries.
Why Isn’t King Charles Allowed at the Pope’s Funeral?
The idea that King Charles was not allowed at the Pope’s funeral is incorrect. He was not banned, excluded or prevented from attending.
King Charles III did not personally attend the funeral. Instead, Prince William represented King Charles and the British monarchy at the service in St. Peter’s Square.
Buckingham Palace did not provide a detailed public reason for the decision. Royal experts noted that it followed historical precedent: Queen Elizabeth II frequently sent the heir to the throne to represent her at major international funerals, including the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005.
The historic separation between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church may have influenced royal protocol, but there was no Vatican rule preventing the King from attending. Charles had met Pope Francis privately in the Vatican earlier in April 2025, shortly after the Pope left the hospital.
