Media Release

The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong
mourns the death of Pope Francis

On behalf of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong and the faithful, Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J.,Bishop of the Diocese of Hong Kong expresses his deepest condolences on the death of His Holiness Pope Francis who returned to our Lord peacefully on 21 April 2025.

Pope Francis was elected Pope on 13 March 2013 after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in February 2013, at the age of 76, as the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Francis was born in Argentina, he became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was appointed Cardinal of Argentina in 2001. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first pope from Latin America.

During his pontificate, Pope Francis visited Mongolia in September 2023, his visit has also brought attention to the relations between the Vatican and China. Pope Francis has been committed in promoting inter-religious dialogue and world peace, and he was determined to reform the Holy See, such as the participation of women at the decision-making level. He was respected and loved by the members of the Church during his pontificate.

Pope Francis proclaimed the Bull of Indiction “Spes non confundit” of the Jubilee Year and opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on 24 December 2024, to symbolize the opening of 2025 Jubilee. He urged the faithful to revive hope among the disappointed during the Jubilee Year, and that everyone would be a ‘Pilgrim of Hope’.

Arrangements on Condolences Service and Memorial Liturgy will be announced.

Pope Francis’photo : https://bit.ly/44lzWr9

Hong Kong Catholic Social Communications Office
Media Hotline : Loura Foo Paul To 3565 2045

Pope Francis’ Background Information

Year　　　Events
17-12-1936 Born at Buenos Aires, Argentina
11-3-1958   Entered the Society of Jesus
13-12-1969 Ordained priest
28-2-1998   Episcopal ordination as Archbishop of Buenos Aires
21-2-2001   Created Cardinal
13-3-2013   Elected Pope as the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church
19-3-2013   Initiation of his ministry as Supreme Pontiff