The Pope’s final Easter mass: A look back just hours before his death

The head of the Catholic Church continued to undertake his religious duties despite being hospitalised earlier this year and experiencing health problems including double phenomena as he delivered his final Easter mass just hours before his death.  In his final hours before he died, Pope Francis appeared on the Vatican balcony to address the faithful who had gathered in the city to listen to his words on Easter Sunday. Earlier today the Vatican confirmed the death of the Argentine pontiff. The Holy See’s statement came after a spokesperson confirmed that the respiratory infection had led to a ‘complex clinical picture’ for the Pope’s health.

Pope Francis delivers his Urbi Et Orbi Blessing blessing from the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square

In his final days as the leader of the Catholic Church, the Pope remained active, continuing to make phone calls to members of a Catholic parish in Gaza. However, his declining health forced him to cancel several engagements, including a planned meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla to mark their 20th wedding anniversary.  Pope Francis’ last public words were made “Urbi et Orbi” – which translates as “to the city and the world” and were published on Easter Sunday, just hours before his death. The late Pontiff read just one line of the long address.

He breathlessly told followers: “Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!” – as he appeared at the Vatican yesterday. The rest of his speech was published in the official Easter Sunday message. The message, which celebrated the Easter story saw him remind people that: “From the empty tomb in Jerusalem, we hear unexpected good news: Jesus, who was crucified, ‘is not here, he has risen’. Jesus is not in the tomb, he is alive! Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness and truth over falsehood.”

The Pope stopped to bless some members of the public on Sunday

He also wished that “the risen Christ grant Ukraine, devastated by war, his Easter gift of peace, and encourage all parties involved to pursue efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace”. He also remembered those in Myanmar devastated by the recent earthquake there.

Before visiting St Paul’s Basilica for the final time on Sunday, the Pope posted on X. H In the Pope’s last post on social media, made hours before his death this morning, he reminded people in a heart-warming message that we are not made for death – but for life. The full message read: “Christ is risen! These words capture the entire meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life.” The post that has now been liked by thousands of people from all over the planet.

Pope Francis greets the faithful at the end of the Easter Mass led by Cardinal Angelo Comastri to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus, at the Vatican, on April 20, 2025

He earlier said on Sunday in his last Easter message: “I would like us to renew our hope peace is possible! From the Holy Sepulchre, the Church of the Resurrection, where this year Easter is being celebrated by Catholics and Orthodox on the same day, may the light of peace radiate throughout the Holy Land and the entire world.

“In the passion and death of Jesus, God has taken upon Himself all the evil in this world and in His infinite mercy has defeated it. He has uprooted the diabolical pride that poisons the human heart and wreaks violence and corruption on every side.  “Sisters, brothers, in the wonder of our Easter faith, carrying in our hearts every expectation of peace and liberation, we can say: with You, O Lord, everything is new. With You, everything begins again.”