CINCINNATI — Tributes to Pope Francis are coming in from Tri-State community leaders after the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church died.
The Vatican announced the pope died at 7:35 a.m. in the Vatican City on Monday, one day after Easter.
He was 88 years old and died after complications from pneumonia in both lungs, according to the Vatican. The pope had just been in front of Vatican City on Sunday for Easter mass. It was the last time he would share a prayer with millions of people.
Watch more about the pope's life below:
Cincinnati's new archbishop, the Most Reverend Robert Casey, released a statement memorializing the pope.
"As we commend a good and faithful servant to God, let us remember that Pope Francis proclaimed 2025 as a Jubilee Year of Hope — awakening us to Christ, who is alive and present in our midst. In the words of the Psalmist: 'Hope in the Lord! Hold firm, take heart, and hope in the Lord!' (Psalm 27:14). May we, then, be filled with hope — hope that Pope Francis will receive the reward of a life poured out in selfless service and love for God’s people and all creation; hope that Christ, who comforts us in our mourning, will send the Holy Spirit to be our Helper; and hope that this same Spirit will inspire and unite us as the Church to stand firm in faith, proclaiming the power of the Resurrection and the joy of the Gospel."
The Most Reverend Dennis Schnurr, Archbishop Emeritus of Cincinnati, also released a statement:
"Please join me in praying for the repose of the soul of our beloved Pope Francis, who was Vicar of Christ, the successor of St. Peter and a faithful shepherd of Christ’s Church. The Holy Father will long be remembered for his great compassion for the elderly, the sick, the unborn, the persecuted and all those on the margins of society. He continuously reminded us that we are the stewards of God’s creation and not its master. And he was an unwavering champion of world peace. After a life dedicated to proclaiming the Good News of our Lord’s saving love for us, may Pope Francis now inherit the reward of eternal rest with God.”
The Diocese of Covington also paid tribute to Pope Francis. Bishop John Iffert is inviting everyone to join in a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the blessing of the pope's life.
“His papacy, which began March 13, 2013, is marked by a deep commitment to mercy, social justice and a renewed focus on the pastoral care of the faithful," said Iffert. "As the Church continues to navigate the complexities of modern society, the principles laid out by Pope Francis will remain vital in fostering a world that truly reflects the love and mercy of Christ. Please join me, the priests and people of the Diocese of Covington and Catholics throughout the world in praying for the repose of Pope Francis.”
The Bishop has instructed pastors in the diocese to toll church bells for 10 minutes beginning at 3 p.m. on Monday. A pontifical Mass will be held for Pope Francis at the Cathedral Basilica of Assumption in Covington on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Xavier University posted on social media, remembering Pope Francis and all of his "firsts" as pope.
Today we mourn the passing of Pope Francis, who energized the world since his election on March 13, 2013. ⁰He was a pope of many "firsts." The first Jesuit pope, the first "Francis", the first non-European pope in modern time and the first from the Western Hemisphere. pic.twitter.com/usbKP8PMBN
— Xavier University (@XavierU) April 21, 2025
The university said in the post that Bellarmine Chapel will be open daily for private prayer from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Vice President JD Vance visited with Pope Francis on Sunday. He said the pope was obviously very ill, but he was glad to get the chance to see him.
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. 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…
— JD Vance (@JDVance) April 21, 2025
Governor Mike DeWine released a statement on Monday about the pope speaking specifically about Pope Francis' work with the poor and his humility.
"Fran and I are saddened by the death of Pope Francis," DeWine said in the statement. "He was an inspiration to us and to millions around the world. His genuine love of and devotion to all people – the poor, the unborn, those without a home, those emigrating to build a better life for themselves and their families, those of all faiths, and those with no faith – was evidenced to the world from the day he was selected to serve as Pope until his last public appearance on Easter Sunday. 'His work directly with the poor was a testament to his life of great humility. And, meeting with children clearly brought him great joy! It gave us the same joy watching him interact with them. He spread the Gospel up until the very end of his life on this Earth, making a special effort to do so on Easter. Pope Francis brought hope to the world through his compassion for all.'"
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear also paid tribute to Pope Francis' legacy on social media. Beashear said that the late pope had earned the title of "The People's Pope," and his loss is great, but his impact is greater.
Pope Francis earned the title “The People’s Pope” by showing kindness and mercy, standing for love above hate and extending a hand to help all people. He led by example, and his humility and dedication to God brought people together. His loss is great, but his impact is greater.
— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) April 21, 2025
