Pope Francis Dies at Age 88

April 21, 2025

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Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed. His death comes just one day after he made a public appearance in Vatican City. The Pope had been dealing with health problems in recent weeks.

Pope Francis served as the spiritual leader for more than a billion Catholics around the world. Known for his humble style and efforts to bring people together, he became Pope in 2013 and was the first ever from South America.

Following his death, the Catholic Church will enter a period of mourning. Then, all cardinals under the age of 80 will gather in Vatican City to choose the next pope. This special meeting is called a conclave and usually takes about two to three weeks.

Until a new pope is elected, the Church will be guided by senior officials. Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy of kindness, care for the poor, and a focus on protecting the planet.

His passing marks the end of a significant chapter in the Church’s history.

Article written by Shem Banbury - Kiwi Kids News Editor

This article was written using AI as an assistive tool for research, writing, and proofreading.
The te reo Māori version of this article was translated with AI assistance. While care has been taken to keep it accurate, if you spot anything that doesn't read quite right, please let us know

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Recall Questions

Thinking questions

Digital Thinking

Learning Options

Recall Questions

Thinking questions

Digital Thinking

On a rainy day, the playground stayed empty during lunch. Students stayed under the covered area, where some played cards and others read books. A few children used chalk to draw on the concrete near the shelter. Even though they could not run outside, the class still found quiet ways to have fun together. When the rain stopped, they hurried out to the field for the last few minutes of play.

What is the main idea of this passage?

The class used chalk because it was sunny. The children went outside as soon as school finished. The playground was the best place to play cards. The students found indoor ways to enjoy lunch on a rainy day.