World
Vatican Confirms Pope Francis Died from Cerebral Stroke Followed by Irreversible Heart Failure
The Vatican has officially confirmed that Pope Francis died from a cerebral stroke, which led to a coma and ultimately resulted in irreversible heart failure.
The announcement was made in a statement released shortly after his passing.
Although Pope Francis did not preside over Easter Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica this year, he made a brief public appearance at the conclusion of the service to deliver his “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city and to the world”) Easter message.
The speech, a traditional papal address given twice a year, was read aloud by an aide just one day before his death.
In the wake of his passing, the Vatican initiated its first public act of mourning—a Rosary prayer service held in St. Peter’s Square at sunset.
The solemn gathering was led by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica.
The first reading was delivered by Sister Raffaella Petrini, Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State and one of the highest-ranking women in Vatican leadership.
Her role exemplified Pope Francis’ commitment to increasing the involvement of women in decision-making positions within the Church.
Among the many tributes pouring in from around the world, U.S. President Donald Trump reflected on Pope Francis’ legacy during remarks at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, saying, “He was a very good man who loved the world.”
Pope Francis is widely remembered as a transformative figure within the Catholic Church.
Known for his humility and progressive tone, he sought to challenge longstanding institutional norms. Jesuit scholar Thomas Reese once observed that Francis worked to “change the style of being Pope, attack clericalism, empower the laity, open the church to conversation and debate, and shift the pastoral and public priorities of the Church.”
Further arrangements regarding the funeral and conclave will be released in the coming days as the Vatican enters an official period of mourning.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – A disturbing incident unfolded on Monday evening, May 26, 2025, during Liverpool Football Club’s Premier League trophy parade, when a vehicle drove into a crowd of fans gathered in the city centre, striking multiple pedestrians.
According to Merseyside Police, the collision occurred shortly after 6:00 p.m. on Water Street, where thousands of supporters had lined the streets to celebrate the club’s title victory.
A newly surfaced video shows the moment the vehicle drove directly into the crowd, causing panic and confusion among those gathered.
Police confirmed that the vehicle came to a stop at the scene, and a male suspect was immediately detained.
Emergency services responded swiftly, and medical personnel were seen attending to injured individuals at the location.
A man driving a car has ploughed into Liverpool fans, out celebrating their Premiership win. People are seriously injured' after person drove vehicle into crowd in Liverpool City Centre in England, police officer says.https://t.co/nxGYm196kA pic.twitter.com/FbObdUotHx
— News Channel3 Now (@newschannel3now) May 26, 2025
In an official statement, Merseyside Police said:
“We are currently dealing with reports of a road traffic collision in Liverpool city centre. We were contacted just after 6:00 p.m. today, Monday 26 May, following reports that a car had been in collision with a number of pedestrians on Water Street. The car stopped at the scene and a male has been detained. Emergency services are currently on scene. We will issue more updates as we have them.”
Authorities have not yet confirmed how many people were injured or the severity of those injuries. Investigations are ongoing to determine the motive behind the incident and whether it was intentional.
The incident cast a shadow over what had been a day of celebration for Liverpool fans, many of whom were seen lighting smoke flares and waving flags during the citywide parade.
Further information will be released as the investigation progresses.