The World Peace Organization (WPO) is Deeply Saddened by Passing of Pope Francis

The World Peace Organization (WPO) is Deeply Saddened by Passing of Pope Francis

The World Peace Organization (WPO) is deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis, a revered global leader and World Peace Award recipient. We received the news with shock and disbelief, initially questioning its authenticity due to the prevalence of misinformation. Upon verification with our contacts in the Vatican, we were informed that although Pope Francis was critically ill and under intensive care, his passing had not been confirmed at that time. According to Vatican tradition, the Pope's passing would be confirmed when smoke signals from the Sistine Chapel's chimney turned black.

Regrettably, despite the medical team's efforts, Pope Francis passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 07:35 local time at the age of 88. He died at Casa Santa Marta, Vatican, following complications from bilateral pneumonia. The bells of St. Peter's Basilica tolled in mourning. The medical report by Dr. Andrea Arcangeli attributed his death to a stroke-induced coma and irreversible cardiac collapse, compounded by a history of acute respiratory failure, bronchiectasis, hypertension, and type II diabetes.

Pope Francis was a compassionate leader known for his dedication to social justice, environmental stewardship, and interfaith dialogue. In his final address, he advocated for peace in Gaza and encouraged the faithful to pray and support one another. Notably, Pope Francis was honored with the World Peace Award by the World Peace Organization in 2023, although he was unable to attend the ceremony held on August 27 at the Sahid Hotel in Jakarta. The award was accepted on his behalf by the Jakarta Diocese and the Vatican Embassy.

The process of selecting a new Pope will commence with the Papal Conclave in the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals from around the world will gather to elect a new spiritual leader for the 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.