• About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • LIVE TV
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Unitedpac St Lucia News - Header Logo
  • St Lucia News
  • All News
    • All
    • Agriculture
    • Caribbean News
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Justice
    • Local News
    • Obituary
    • Religion
    • Weather Alerts
    Neil Peter identified as Morne Serpent homicide victim in Gros Islet shooting

    Morne Serpent homicide victim identified as 35-year-old resident

    Homicide investigation police line after fatal shooting in Morne Serpent

    Fatal shooting in Morne Serpent leaves 1 man dead

    Jay Collimore, also known as Juice Box, identified as the victim in the fatal shooting in Dennery

    Fatal shooting in Dennery leaves 1 dead, Soufrière man critical

    Thick smoke rising from the Deglos landfill fire in St Lucia, October 2025

    Deglos landfill fire sparks health advisory in St Lucia

    UWP candidate Marcella Johnson overlaid on Gros Islet Corinth back road scene where No Right Turn signs sparked commuter backlash

    Marcella Johnson demands recall of Gros Islet No Right Turn sign

    UWP PRO Lenard Montoute speaks in front of the opposition crest and Saint Lucia flag as UWP accuses SLP of hypocrisy on crime, policing and free speech

    UWP accuses SLP of hypocrisy on crime, policing and free speech

    Trending Tags

    • Government of Saint Lucia
    • St Lucia Crime News
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Saint Lucia Events
    • Sports
    • Video News
    Julien Alfred road to Tokyo captured in focus as she prepares on the track wearing headphones and training gear.

    Julien Alfred road to Tokyo: From dark struggles to Olympic glory

    “Julien Alfred Diamond League victory in Zurich as the St Lucian Olympic champion powers to win the women’s 100m in 10.76 seconds.

    Julien Alfred Diamond League victory in Zurich 100m

    Melissa Jefferson-Wooden Diamond League 100m win in Brussels 2025 crossing finish line

    Melissa Jefferson-Wooden Diamond League 100m win Brussels

    Allen Chastanet addresses the nation on the St Lucia crime crisis with police lights in the background.

    St Lucia crime crisis: Chastanet slams Pierre over deadly surge

    Jason Holder hits the winning shot in thrilling West Indies T20 victory over Pakistan in Florida

    Jason Holder Heroics End West Indies T20 Losing Streak

    Hulk Hogan flexing in red Hulkamania shirt before crowd – Hulk Hogan dead at 71

    Hulk Hogan dead at 71 after suffering cardiac arrest

    Trending Tags

    • Julien Alfred
    • West Indies Cricket
    • St Lucia athletics
  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Culture
    • Health
    • Travel
    Thick smoke rising from the Deglos landfill fire in St Lucia, October 2025

    Deglos landfill fire sparks health advisory in St Lucia

    Poolside view at Sugar Beach resort in St Lucia with Pitons in the background – Forbes ranks best resorts in St Lucia

    Forbes ranks best resorts in St Lucia, highlights others

    CTO champions sustainable transformation: headshot of Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper for World Tourism Day 2025.

    CTO champions sustainable transformation on World Tourism Day

    Teri Helenese urges sustainable tourism growth in a professional portrait wearing a black-and-white blazer against a light blue background.

    U.S. Virgin Islands official Teri Helenese urges sustainable tourism growth

    Large white cruise ship sailing in the Caribbean Sea near a rocky shoreline, illustrating concerns over Caribbean cruise ship revenue.

    Caribbean cruise ship revenue lags globally, World Bank warns

    Janelle Hopkin and Lady Betty Hopkin celebrate AAA Five Diamond Award with Spice Island Beach Resort team in Grenada

    AAA Five Diamond honor awarded to Spice Island Beach Resort for 9th year

    Trending Tags

    • OKEU Hospital
  • Tech
  • Commentary
  • Press Releases
No Result
View All Result
  • St Lucia News
  • All News
    • All
    • Agriculture
    • Caribbean News
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Justice
    • Local News
    • Obituary
    • Religion
    • Weather Alerts
    Neil Peter identified as Morne Serpent homicide victim in Gros Islet shooting

    Morne Serpent homicide victim identified as 35-year-old resident

    Homicide investigation police line after fatal shooting in Morne Serpent

    Fatal shooting in Morne Serpent leaves 1 man dead

    Jay Collimore, also known as Juice Box, identified as the victim in the fatal shooting in Dennery

    Fatal shooting in Dennery leaves 1 dead, Soufrière man critical

    Thick smoke rising from the Deglos landfill fire in St Lucia, October 2025

    Deglos landfill fire sparks health advisory in St Lucia

    UWP candidate Marcella Johnson overlaid on Gros Islet Corinth back road scene where No Right Turn signs sparked commuter backlash

    Marcella Johnson demands recall of Gros Islet No Right Turn sign

    UWP PRO Lenard Montoute speaks in front of the opposition crest and Saint Lucia flag as UWP accuses SLP of hypocrisy on crime, policing and free speech

    UWP accuses SLP of hypocrisy on crime, policing and free speech

    Trending Tags

    • Government of Saint Lucia
    • St Lucia Crime News
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Saint Lucia Events
    • Sports
    • Video News
    Julien Alfred road to Tokyo captured in focus as she prepares on the track wearing headphones and training gear.

    Julien Alfred road to Tokyo: From dark struggles to Olympic glory

    “Julien Alfred Diamond League victory in Zurich as the St Lucian Olympic champion powers to win the women’s 100m in 10.76 seconds.

    Julien Alfred Diamond League victory in Zurich 100m

    Melissa Jefferson-Wooden Diamond League 100m win in Brussels 2025 crossing finish line

    Melissa Jefferson-Wooden Diamond League 100m win Brussels

    Allen Chastanet addresses the nation on the St Lucia crime crisis with police lights in the background.

    St Lucia crime crisis: Chastanet slams Pierre over deadly surge

    Jason Holder hits the winning shot in thrilling West Indies T20 victory over Pakistan in Florida

    Jason Holder Heroics End West Indies T20 Losing Streak

    Hulk Hogan flexing in red Hulkamania shirt before crowd – Hulk Hogan dead at 71

    Hulk Hogan dead at 71 after suffering cardiac arrest

    Trending Tags

    • Julien Alfred
    • West Indies Cricket
    • St Lucia athletics
  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Culture
    • Health
    • Travel
    Thick smoke rising from the Deglos landfill fire in St Lucia, October 2025

    Deglos landfill fire sparks health advisory in St Lucia

    Poolside view at Sugar Beach resort in St Lucia with Pitons in the background – Forbes ranks best resorts in St Lucia

    Forbes ranks best resorts in St Lucia, highlights others

    CTO champions sustainable transformation: headshot of Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper for World Tourism Day 2025.

    CTO champions sustainable transformation on World Tourism Day

    Teri Helenese urges sustainable tourism growth in a professional portrait wearing a black-and-white blazer against a light blue background.

    U.S. Virgin Islands official Teri Helenese urges sustainable tourism growth

    Large white cruise ship sailing in the Caribbean Sea near a rocky shoreline, illustrating concerns over Caribbean cruise ship revenue.

    Caribbean cruise ship revenue lags globally, World Bank warns

    Janelle Hopkin and Lady Betty Hopkin celebrate AAA Five Diamond Award with Spice Island Beach Resort team in Grenada

    AAA Five Diamond honor awarded to Spice Island Beach Resort for 9th year

    Trending Tags

    • OKEU Hospital
  • Tech
  • Commentary
  • Press Releases
No Result
View All Result
Unitedpac St Lucia News - Mobile Logo
  • St Lucia News
  • All News
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Tech
  • Commentary
  • Press Releases
  • LIVE TV
Home All News Religion

Pope Francis dead at 88: Global Church begins search for new leader

Unitedpac by Unitedpac
April 21, 2025 - Updated on May 8, 2025
in World, Obituary, Religion
Reading Time: 5 mins read
102 3
A A
0
Pope Francis dead at 88 during Easter week service at the Vatican

Pope Francis, pictured during a Vatican Easter service

23
SHARES
233
VIEWS
Share Share Reddit

VATICAN CITY (April 21, 2025) — Pope Francis dead at 88 marks the end of a historic papacy that reshaped the Catholic Church and inspired global calls for compassion. The first Latin American pope passed away at 7:35 a.m. local time on Easter Monday at his Vatican residence, following complications from double pneumonia. His death initiates the formal process to elect a new leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the pope’s death in an official statement shared via the Vatican’s digital platforms. The Roman Catholic Church has now entered an official mourning period.

ADVERTISEMENT

‘People’s pope’ remembered for compassion and reform

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was elected on March 13, 2013, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI, who had resigned weeks earlier — the first papal resignation in nearly six centuries. Francis became the first Jesuit, the first non-European in over 1,200 years, and the first Latin American pontiff.

Often referred to as the “people’s pope,” Francis used his global platform to emphasize humility, social justice, and mercy. He drew praise for championing the rights of the poor and displaced, promoting interfaith dialogue, and sounding the alarm on climate change. His encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti became cornerstones of his spiritual and moral leadership.

According to Al Jazeera, Francis’s papacy was characterized by his approachable demeanor and efforts to strip away the Church’s bureaucratic opacity, offering a fresh voice for ordinary believers.

ADVERTISEMENT

French President Emmanuel Macron called him a defender “of the most vulnerable,” while Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin praised his “unwavering commitment to peace and human dignity.”

Allen Chastanet pays tribute to Pope Francis dead at 88
Saint Lucia Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet

In St Lucia, Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet issued a public tribute, stating: “In a world often divided, he was a bridge-builder, a shepherd of compassion who reminded us of our shared humanity and the boundless power of mercy and humility. Whether speaking out for the poor, embracing those on the margins, or calling on us all to care for our planet, Pope Francis lived his faith with courage, grace, and deep conviction. May he rest in peace, and may his spirit continue to guide us toward justice, dignity, and hope for all.”

Global tributes pour in as Pope Francis dead at 88 shakes the Catholic world

The pope’s death comes just one day after his final public appearance at Easter Mass in St Peter’s Square. Though visibly frail, he waved to thousands of worshippers and offered a brief “Happy Easter” before aides read his final benediction.

His death has prompted tributes from leaders around the world and shocked many observers, as the pontiff had remained active despite his ailing health.

Francis had been discharged from Gemelli Hospital just weeks earlier following a 38-day stay for treatment of double pneumonia. He later defied doctors’ recommendations by continuing pastoral visits, including one to a Roman prison.

Final appearance and health struggles before his passing

Francis’s later years were marked by persistent health issues. He underwent colon surgery in 2021, hernia surgery in 2023, and suffered frequent bouts of bronchitis and knee pain that required the use of a wheelchair. Still, he remained determined to serve, reportedly saying during Easter, “I am living it as best I can.”

The timing of his passing — less than 24 hours after his Easter message — left many in St Peter’s Square and around the world stunned.

Global impact and controversial reforms define his legacy

Pope Francis made landmark changes in Church doctrine and tone. He declared the death penalty inadmissible under any circumstance, condemned the possession of nuclear weapons as immoral, and advocated for the humane treatment of migrants and refugees. His outreach to LGBTQ Catholics and endorsement of civil unions sparked debate within the Church, especially among traditionalists.

Yet his papacy also drew criticism. He maintained conservative positions on abortion and clerical celibacy and faced backlash for his initial mishandling of a major sexual abuse scandal in Chile in 2018 — a case that reignited scrutiny of the Roman Catholic Church’s accountability under his leadership.

Even in his final days, he continued diplomatic efforts, meeting with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. “Release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people,” he declared during his Easter address.

His death leaves a significant void in Roman Catholic Church leadership, ushering in a period of reflection and transition as the Church prepares for its next chapter.

What comes next: Conclave and succession plans underway

In accordance with Vatican Conclave tradition, Francis’s papal ring will be destroyed, and a funeral is expected to take place within the next six days. He will be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, per his request for a modest ceremony.

The Vatican conclave 2025 will see cardinals under the age of 80 gather in secrecy to elect the next pope. Once chosen, the new pontiff will be introduced from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica — a moment expected to draw global attention.

Until then, the Roman Catholic Church enters a solemn period of mourning and anticipation, honoring the legacy of a pope who redefined the spiritual direction of a global institution.

For continued updates on this developing story and other top headlines from around the region and the world, stay with Unitedpac St Lucia News.

Tags: Allen Chastanet tribute PopeCatholic Church leadershipLatin American pope legacyPapal transition 2025Pope Francis deathSpiritual leadership newsVatican conclave 2025

Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.

Unsubscribe
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Update: Police Identify Tommy Joseph aka Tomchu as Fond Assau Homicide Victim

Next Post

Explosive Dennery SLP Divide? Fond D’Or Jazz Shakeup Sparks Infighting

Related Posts

2025 U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report cover highlighting human trafficking in St Lucia downgrade to Tier 2 Watch List.

Human trafficking in St Lucia leads to US Tier 2 Watch List downgrade

October 2, 2025
222
French Ambassador Francis Etienne pays tribute at funeral of K9 Constable Tyson in St Lucia

K9 Constable Tyson honored with emotional funeral in St Lucia

September 16, 2025
271
Aerial image showing the Trump Venezuela drug boat strike, with a targeted vessel in rough seas after the U.S. military operation

Trump Venezuela Drug Boat Strike Kills 3 in Second Operation

September 15, 2025
210
Julien Alfred road to Tokyo captured in focus as she prepares on the track wearing headphones and training gear.

Julien Alfred road to Tokyo: From dark struggles to Olympic glory

September 13, 2025
498
Tony Paul at Rev-Up SLU 97.1 FM studio, veteran St Lucia broadcaster

Tony Paul, veteran St Lucia broadcaster, dies

September 6, 2025 - Updated on September 27, 2025
1.6k
Aerial surveillance image shows US strike on Venezuelan drug boat in Caribbean waters before it was destroyed, killing 11

US strikes Venezuelan drug boat, killing 11 in Caribbean waters

September 3, 2025
466
Next Post
Emrand Matthew deepens Dennery SLP divide with Facebook outburst

Explosive Dennery SLP Divide? Fond D'Or Jazz Shakeup Sparks Infighting

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Stay Connected

  • 22.4k Fans
  • 873 Followers
  • 13.5k Subscribers
  • 2.6k Followers
  • 41 Followers
  • 2.3k Followers
ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

Homicide investigation police line after fatal shooting in Morne Serpent

Fatal shooting in Morne Serpent leaves 1 man dead

October 5, 2025
513
Jay Collimore, also known as Juice Box, identified as the victim in the fatal shooting in Dennery

Fatal shooting in Dennery leaves 1 dead, Soufrière man critical

October 4, 2025
807
Thick smoke rising from the Deglos landfill fire in St Lucia, October 2025

Deglos landfill fire sparks health advisory in St Lucia

October 4, 2025
230
Poolside view at Sugar Beach resort in St Lucia with Pitons in the background – Forbes ranks best resorts in St Lucia

Forbes ranks best resorts in St Lucia, highlights others

October 4, 2025
755
Unitedpac St. Lucia News logo


Unitedpac St Lucia News — Your trusted source for St Lucia News Online. Get breaking news today on politics, crime, tourism, and community stories across St Lucia, the Caribbean, and worldwide.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • All News
    • Agriculture
    • Caribbean News
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Justice
    • Local News
    • Obituary
    • Religion
    • Weather Alerts
  • Business
  • Commentary
  • Entertainment
    • Saint Lucia Events
    • Sports
    • Video News
  • Lifestyle
    • Culture
    • Health
    • Travel
  • Politics
  • Press Releases
  • Tech
  • World

Recent News

Neil Peter identified as Morne Serpent homicide victim in Gros Islet shooting

Morne Serpent homicide victim identified as 35-year-old resident

October 5, 2025 - Updated on October 7, 2025
Homicide investigation police line after fatal shooting in Morne Serpent

Fatal shooting in Morne Serpent leaves 1 man dead

October 5, 2025
Jay Collimore, also known as Juice Box, identified as the victim in the fatal shooting in Dennery

Fatal shooting in Dennery leaves 1 dead, Soufrière man critical

October 4, 2025
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • LIVE TV

Copyright © 2025 Unitedpac St Lucia News - All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • St Lucia News
  • All News
    • Agriculture
    • Local News
    • Justice
    • Crime
    • Caribbean News
    • Obituary
    • Religion
    • Weather Alerts
    • Education
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Saint Lucia Events
  • Lifestyle
    • Culture
    • Travel
    • Health
  • Tech
  • Commentary
  • Press Releases
  • LIVE TV

Copyright © 2025 Unitedpac St Lucia News - All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.