By Christopher Lamb and Helen Regan, CNN
Pope Francis meeting with US Vice-President JD Vance in The Vatican, one day before he died. Photo: HANDOUT
Pope Francis spent his final days in service of the church, participating as much as he could in the celebration of Easter, the high point of the Christian calendar.
The 88-year-old pontiff did not lead the main Holy Week and Easter services, but had made brief appearances over the weekend, including spending 30 minutes at a prison in Rome on Thursday, and making a visit to St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday evening.
And then on Sunday morning, he was able to offer the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing to the "City [of Rome] and to the World" while an aide read his address.
Only the pope can offer this blessing, which includes the offer of an indulgence, a remission for the effect of sins.
He later greeted cheering crowds in St. Peter's Square from the popemobile, the first time he has done so since his hospitalisation.
He also met briefly with US Vice President JD Vance, who is the last foreign civic dignitary to have met with Pope Francis.
Vance, who met with Francis hours before his death, said he was "happy to see" the pope on Easter Sunday, "though he was obviously very ill."
"I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him," Vance said Monday in a post on X.
"I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I'll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful."
I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) April 21, 2025
I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days…
"It is quite extraordinary that after the highest point of the church's liturgical year, at the highest point, the Pope then passes on and it's, in some ways quite fitting, because of course the Easter message is all about the death and new life," CNN Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb said from Rome.
"The last days of Francis were really dedicated to serving the church, to continuing his ministry right until the end.
"He did not resign, as some people speculated (he would). He always signalled his determination to go until the end, to serve until the very last moment."
- CNN
