Via The Essential \\ The Pope's pointed final message to the world

 

Monday April 21 2025 The Essential Lunchtime edition The Pope's pointed final message to the world by Kieran Davey

Pope Francis was one of the most popular popes of recent times (Photo: Vatican Media/Reuters) Welcome to Monday’s The Essential from The i Paper.   Tributes have poured in after the death of Pope Francis this morning at the age of 88. The 266th leader of the Catholic Church spent more than a decade as Pope, after his election on 13 March 2013. King Charles said he and the Queen were “most deeply saddened” while Sir Keir Starmer described the pontiff as “a Pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten”.   Today we remember the Pope's final pointed message to the world, hours after meeting US Vice President JD Vance. And in a look back over his life, Catherine Pepinster recalls how Pope Francis both delighted and challenged Catholics across the world.   Discussions over who will succeed the pontiff have been ongoing for some time, according to Vatican experts. Here is our guide to who could be the next Pope, and how they will be chosen. Pope Francis's death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell in a statement released by the Vatican (Photo: Buda Mendes/Getty)