Just hours after greeting the faithful for an Easter Sunday blessing, Pope Francis died on Easter Monday. James Longman reports from Vatican City on the 88-year-old pontiff's cause of death, his will and his final wishes; David Muir looks back at the extraordinary life and legacy of Pope Francis, who’s known as the People's Pope, and the impact he had on the world; and more on tonight’s broadcast of World News Tonight with David Muir.
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00:00Tonight, the breaking news, the death of Pope Francis, and late today, the Vatican now releasing
00:05the cause of death, dying just hours after appearing on the balcony on Easter Sunday
00:09in St. Peter's Square. And tonight, they have now revealed the Pope's will, his final wishes,
00:14what Pope Francis wanted. This evening, Pope Francis, his humility, his humor, his tolerance,
00:19the leader of more than 1.3 billion Catholics around the globe. Tonight, the Vatican now
00:24revealing how he died just hours after celebrating Easter before tens of thousands who had gathered
00:29in St. Peter's Square. This evening, what we know about the funeral and about the conclave
00:34that comes afterward, how they will choose the next Pope. Pope Francis was an unorthodox
00:38choice, the first Jesuit, the first Pope from Latin America. And tonight, what we know about
00:42the balance of cardinals, about the conclave already. And Pope Francis was the first Pope
00:47to ever agree to a town hall with American television. Tonight, the moment we waited at
00:52that door inside Vatican walls, and then our walk across the courtyard, the behind-the-scenes
00:57moments from our historic ABC News Town Hall with the Pope. And tonight, you will hear from
01:02the girl who the Pope asked to sing in front of millions during our town hall, what's happened
01:07to her life since. The other news this Monday night, the flames shooting from a Delta engine,
01:11nearly 300 passengers racing to get off the plane on slides. Tonight, the Dow losing nearly
01:161,000 points amid President Trump's tariffs. The president now taking aim at the Federal Reserve
01:21chairman, what the president is demanding now. Tonight, ABC News confirming a brazen robbery involving
01:27Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, a masked thief stealing her bag with her passport and
01:33the Department of Homeland Security access card inside. And as the world mourns Pope Francis,
01:38soon all eyes will be on the conclave. And what we know, how long it could take to choose
01:43the next Pope? From ABC News World Headquarters in New York, this is World News Tonight with
01:54David Muir. Good evening, and it's great to have you with us here on a Monday night. And we do begin
01:58tonight with the death of Pope Francis, the leader of 1.3 billion Catholics around the world, and the
02:03spiritual figure whose humility and tolerance was felt well beyond the church. Tonight, the Vatican
02:08revealing the Pope died of a stroke and heart failure, slipping into a coma just hours after
02:13his last appearance from the balcony in St. Peter's Square to celebrate Easter Sunday. During his 12
02:19years as pontiff, Pope Francis proved himself to be the people's Pope, reaching out to the poor,
02:23the forgotten, the people at the margins. From the moment the former cardinal from Argentina was
02:28introduced as Pope Francis, he set the church on a new course. The first Pope from Latin America,
02:33the first Jesuit, the first to elevate women to positions of church authority, the first to allow
02:38priests to bless same-sex couples, asking early on as a Pope, who am I to judge? And another first,
02:44Pope Francis agreeing to the first-ever town hall with American television. Tonight, that moment,
02:48we waited at the door inside Vatican walls and then our walk right there across the courtyard with Pope
02:53Francis. Millions would watch as the Pope took questions from Americans back here in the U.S.
02:58But it has been a remarkable 24 hours, the Pope who had been in failing health, his battle with
03:03pneumonia in the hospital and then out, and then appearing on Easter Sunday. There was so much
03:08hope he was getting better, but then the world learning he died just hours later. Tonight here,
03:13the Pope's will now revealed his final wishes. ABC's chief international correspondent, James Longman,
03:18at the Vatican tonight, leading us off.
03:21Francis kept people at the heart of his papacy, and tonight, thousands flocked to the Vatican to
03:26remember him and his message of humility. His sudden death a shock, just hours after greeting
03:31the faithful for Easter. Tonight, the Vatican says the 88-year-old suffered a cerebral stroke,
03:36fell into a coma, and had irreversible heart failure. He died at 7.35 this morning, local time.
03:44The Vatican with this announcement, saying Francis dedicated his entire life to his church,
03:49teaching universal love, especially toward the poorest and most marginalised.
03:55The first Latin American pope dying at the holiest time of the year for Catholics.
04:00Fairly subdued atmosphere here on the square. I mean, yesterday, there were thousands of people
04:04here, all cheering on Pope Francis. Look, people knew he was sick, but I think they hoped that he
04:09was getting better, and now he's gone. I think it's just shock.
04:12This was the extraordinary scene on Easter Sunday in St. Peter's Square, Francis greeting
04:18thousands from the Popemobile, appearing frail, but waving, blessing children in the crowd.
04:25That appearance came shortly after the traditional Easter Sunday Mass, where crowds heard what would
04:29be the Pope's final message, and received his last blessing.
04:32His voice, just a whisper, wishing the crowd a happy Easter, his last message to the world,
04:49the same one he spent his life preaching, unity, service, and compassion for society's most vulnerable.
04:55Pope Francis spent weeks in the hospital battling pneumonia in both lungs, suffering two emergencies
05:00that nearly killed him. But, seeming to recover, he even made some appearances.
05:04Hello. So good to see you.
05:07Seen here with Vice President Vance on Easter Sunday, one of his last meetings with a world leader.
05:12I know you've not been feeling great, but it's good to see you in better health.
05:16Today, the Vice President reflected on that meeting, writing,
05:19I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. May God rest his soul.
05:23President Trump at the White House today.
05:25He was a very good man who loved the world, and he especially loved people that were having a hard time.
05:32And that's good with me.
05:34Former President Obama and First Lady Michelle, who met with the Pope at the White House in 2015,
05:38issued a joint statement, saying,
05:40Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people.
05:44Tonight, cardinals are travelling to the Vatican from around the world,
05:48sealing off the official papal apartment, part of a centuries-old tradition,
05:51preparing for the Pope's funeral.
05:53And tonight, we've learned Pope Francis' final wishes.
05:56The Vatican releasing his will late today, saying he wanted to be buried at St. Mary Major Basilica.
06:02Francis saying the tomb must be in the earth, simple, without particular decoration,
06:06and with the only inscription, Franciscus.
06:08And in St. Peter's Square today, we met Scott and Betty from Nebraska.
06:12There was a lot of admiration for him.
06:14Yeah, respect.
06:14You know, I think he was one of the more progressive folks that we've had,
06:18and open to everybody and new thoughts and new ideas, and not afraid to speak to power.
06:25Yeah.
06:26Very positive influence.
06:28Yeah.
06:29An influence felt well beyond the church.
06:31Francis dies truly a global symbol of humility and kindness.
06:35In a world of deep division, he asked instead, who am I to judge?
06:39Well put, James.
06:40Let's get right to James Longman.
06:42He's live outside the Vatican tonight.
06:43And of course, James, the Pope's death just hours after he appeared on Easter Sunday there
06:47in Rome at the Vatican in front of the world.
06:50It seems the Pope was determined really to be the people's Pope right until the end,
06:53despite guidance from the doctors.
06:55Yeah, that's absolutely right, David.
06:58He really wanted to be there for his people.
07:02He spent his last day putting the faithful first.
07:05And that really does sum up Pope Francis' papacy.
07:09Often he wanted to work against his doctor's orders.
07:12Now, of course, the church is bracing to see who comes next.
07:15David.
07:16James Longman live in Vatican City tonight.
07:18James, our thanks to you.
07:19And of course, we will never forget our time with the Pope,
07:21that historic ABC News town hall with Pope Francis, the first ever.
07:25His humility, his humor, his tolerance.
07:28And there was a moment, if you remember, that he asked a saddened little girl
07:31during our town hall to sing in front of millions watching.
07:35And what's happened to her since?
07:39Pope Francis was known as the people's Pope,
07:42a window into his humility evident from the moment the world met him on that balcony,
07:47wearing white, a simple cassock by choice.
07:49Pope Francis greeting the world with a simple Buena Cera.
07:55Good evening.
07:57Then a humble bow to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.
08:01And with a limousine waiting, he instead chose to ride in a van
08:05with some of the very cardinals who had just named him Pope.
08:08He returned to the hotel to pay the bill himself.
08:11He would sometimes ride in a Ford Focus, telling priests and nuns to drive humble cars.
08:16Pope Francis in that open-air Popemobile, famously asking for it not to be covered,
08:22to be able to reach out to the faithful.
08:24He was the first Jesuit Pope and the first Pope from Latin America.
08:28He was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the son of Italian immigrants.
08:32He grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
08:35Despite that early setback as a teenager, the infection that claimed part of his lung,
08:39this was a young man full of life and a passion for philosophy, dancing.
08:43He was a soccer fan in Argentina.
08:46He would study to become a chemist before answering the call to serve,
08:50becoming a priest at 32.
08:52He would lead by example.
08:54As a cardinal, he sold off the church mansion,
08:57cooked his own meals, and rode the subway while helping the poor.
09:01So it only seemed fitting that the new Pope would take his name from St. Francis of Assisi,
09:06who dedicated his life to caring for the poor, the first Pope to take that name.
09:11Pope Francis would try to modernize the church, focused on people on the periphery,
09:16and through tolerance, hoping to welcome more into the Catholic Church.
09:20Before creating the world,
09:25God loved.
09:29Because God is love.
09:33Instead of washing the feet of fellow priests on Holy Thursday in ancient ritual,
09:39Pope Francis chose prisoners, including young people, women, and Muslims.
09:44When Catholics from around the world wrote him letters about their troubles,
09:47he was known to call some of them on the phone and offer prayer and guidance.
09:52His deep personal connection to the faithful, the sick, on full display through the years,
09:57and he was accessible, often willing to stop for a selfie.
10:02His reach was extraordinary, traveling to more than 60 countries.
10:07In Rio, millions flocking to Mass on Copacabana Beach,
10:10three million worshipers would come see him.
10:14He would work toward a more inclusive church.
10:17Francis called for a larger role for women, with a series of firsts,
10:21giving a woman a vote in the Senate of Bishops,
10:23appointing a woman to oversee the Vatican City State.
10:26He would root out corruption at the Vatican Bank,
10:29and he would express compassion for the LGBTQ community.
10:33From the very beginning, when asked about gay priests
10:35during his first in-flight press conference,
10:38he answered,
10:41Who am I to judge?
10:42And he would permit priests to bless same-sex couples,
10:46a seismic change in Vatican policy.
10:50We are all children of God, he said.
10:52At the Vatican, he met privately with victims of sex abuse by the clergy.
10:57And he would speak openly through the years about climate change.
11:02In 2015, his visit to the United States,
11:05the first pope to address a joint meeting of Congress.
11:07I am most grateful for your invitation
11:11to address this joint session of Congress
11:17in the land of the free, at the home of the brave.
11:23And it was on the eve of that U.S. visit,
11:28Pope Francis was the first pope to ever agree
11:30to a town hall with American television.
11:33We will never forget quietly waiting outside this door,
11:36inside the closed walls of the Vatican.
11:38We were not far from the pope's residence,
11:40famously choosing to forego the Grand Papal Apartment.
11:44We were told in a moment the doors would open,
11:46that the pope would emerge.
11:48Instead, the door opened, and they waved me inside.
11:51The pope asking for a moment to meet with me
11:53before the cameras began to roll.
11:56And then our walk to our historic ABC News town hall
11:59with Pope Francis.
12:00I had agreed to conduct the town hall in Spanish.
12:03And as we head into the room, a smile from Pope Francis.
12:06He was surprised at the scope of the crew,
12:09and he knew our cameras were also in three cities
12:11from Chicago to Los Angeles to McCallum, Texas.
12:14We began the town hall.
12:16Families and young people gathered at locations across the country,
12:23Pope Francis taking their questions,
12:26and they shared their pain, their struggles.
12:28There was Valerie Herrera, 17 at the time, from Chicago,
12:32who struggled with a rare skin disorder her entire life.
12:35She told the pope she turned to music to survive the bullying.
12:38And after her tears in front of the pope,
12:41an unexpected request from Pope Francis.
12:44And he delivered his request in English.
12:47Valerie, I would like to have you singing.
12:55May I ask of you to sing a song for me?
13:02Sure.
13:02I love that.
13:11I don't know what song.
13:13Go on, go on.
13:15Okay.
13:16Be courageous.
13:18This song is in Spanish, so.
13:21That's better.
13:22Quiero que me eduques, que me enseñes a rezar.
13:28Házme transparente, lléname de paz.
13:42Thank you very much.
13:45He's very kind of you.
13:47After that moment, I turned to Pope Francis,
13:50saying a song for the pope in front of the world.
13:52That's difficult.
13:53Una canción para el papa es difícil.
13:55And tonight, right here, Valerie,
13:58who is now 26 and a nurse outside Chicago,
14:02telling us what that moment with the pope did for her.
14:05When he's asked me to sing for him,
14:08his very warming and welcoming smile.
14:11Whenever I think about Pope Francis,
14:14it's the face that I have in my head.
14:18That is the face that I will always remember.
14:20And I remember, in that final moment with the pope,
14:23asking him if he had a message for Americans,
14:26back home watching.
14:28Do you have a message for America before your visit,
14:31a parting message?
14:32Que rezo por ustedes.
14:35The pope saying, I'm praying for all of you,
14:37the people of the United States,
14:39and I ask you to pray for me.
14:41An extraordinary moment for all of us here at ABC News
14:45to experience that with Pope Francis
14:46and how powerful to hear from Valerie all these years later.
14:50Now, tomorrow night in prime time,
14:51an ABC News special,
14:52Francis, the People's Pope,
14:5410 p.m. Eastern tomorrow night,
14:55and then streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
14:57And later this week,
14:58I'll be traveling to Rome for the funeral
15:00once we know when the funeral will be held,
15:02and then we'll be there, of course,
15:03for the conclave as well.
15:04So we hope you'll stay with ABC News.
15:06In the meantime,
15:07we are going to turn to the other news this Monday night.
15:08Frightening images on board a Delta flight
15:10just before takeoff from the Orlando airport.
15:13Flames seen shooting from the engine,
15:14passengers racing to get out on slides.
15:17Here's Gio Benitez.
15:18Tonight, terrifying moments on board this Delta flight.
15:21Please sit down, stay seated, stay calm.
15:24You can hear the panic among the nearly 300 passengers,
15:27flames visible outside the windows,
15:29shooting from an engine tailpipe
15:30at Orlando International Airport
15:32just after the Atlanta-bound plane
15:35pushed back from the gate.
15:36Passenger Ram Yogendra said
15:38people were yelling, fire.
15:40Kids are having panic attacks.
15:42You know, moms and dads are worried about the kids,
15:44grabbing onto the kids.
15:45Come this way!
15:46As firefighters hosed down the wing,
15:48passengers were evacuated down slides and stairs.
15:51Coming out, they're sliding down.
15:53Inside the terminal, a crowd watching it all.
15:56And David, tonight, investigators are still trying
15:59to figure out how that fire started.
16:01The good news, though, nobody was injured.
16:04David.
16:04Gio Benitez with us tonight.
16:05Gio, thank you.
16:06We turn now to the economy.
16:07The Dow dropping nearly 1,000 points today
16:09amid President Trump's tariffs.
16:10And now the president is taking aim tonight
16:12at Fed Chairman Jerome Powell,
16:14placing blame on him.
16:16Here's Mary Bruce.
16:18Tonight, the Dow plunging nearly 1,000 points
16:21as President Trump ramps up his pressure campaign
16:23against the chairman of the Federal Reserve,
16:26attacking Jerome Powell as a major loser,
16:29saying the economy will slow down
16:31unless Powell lowers interest rates now.
16:33Investors worry Trump will try to force out the Fed chief
16:37he appointed himself, but who is supposed to be independent.
16:40They're already reeling from the uncertainty
16:42caused by Trump's trade wars.
16:45There's a little transition, and that's going to happen,
16:47but ultimately we're going to be the strongest
16:49that we've ever been as a nation.
16:51The president insists his tariffs will force countries
16:54to negotiate better trade deals, but nothing yet.
16:57And many economists feel the reason the Fed chair
17:00is hesitant to lower rates is because tariffs
17:03are already causing prices to rise,
17:05and lowering interest rates could send inflation higher.
17:08David.
17:09Mary Bruce, live at the White House.
17:10Mary, thank you.
17:11The other major headline tonight,
17:12Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is dismissing new reports
17:15that he shared highly sensitive U.S. military attack plans
17:18with his wife and others in a second group chat
17:21using the Signal app.
17:22Sources telling ABC News the information Hegseth sent
17:25to the group is essentially the same sensitive material
17:27he shared in a separate Signal chat
17:29with top administration officials.
17:31That first group chat mistakenly included
17:33a journalist from The Atlantic.
17:34President Trump tonight is standing by Hegseth.
17:37When we come back here, the news coming in,
17:38ABC News now confirming a brazen robbery
17:41involving Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem,
17:43her passport and her Department of Homeland Security
17:46access card stolen, and what we've learned here.
17:48And the images tonight, a massive truck fire
17:50closing a major interstate.
17:51You'll see the flames and smoke there.
17:53More on this in a moment.
17:56Tonight in Indiana, parts of Interstate 65
17:58remain shut down by a massive truck fire
18:00in Jasper County.
18:01The semi-truck exploding on the highway.
18:03Police say the truck was hauling flammable material.
18:06The truck driver was not hurt.
18:08Traffic was halted for a time.
18:10When we come back here tonight,
18:11ABC News learning a masked thief
18:13stealing Homeland Security Chief Kristi Noem's bag
18:15with her passport and her Homeland Security access card.
18:18What we know so far in a moment.
18:21Tonight, the Secret Service is now investigating
18:23a robbery involving Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
18:26A DHS official says a masked man stole her bag from a restaurant
18:30in Washington, D.C., running away.
18:31It had $3,000 inside her passport
18:34and her Homeland Security access pass.
18:37When we come back here tonight,
18:38James Longman is standing by at the Vatican.
18:40There are already so many questions,
18:41of course, about choosing the next pope.
18:43So what we know already about the secret conclave
18:46in just a moment here.
18:49As the world remembers, Pope Francis already questions
18:52about who the next pope could be.
18:54Let's go back to James Longman.
18:56David, you're right.
18:57There is sadness.
18:57There is reflection.
18:58But there's also a lot of mystery
19:00surrounding these next couple of weeks at the Vatican.
19:02Tomorrow, cardinals from all over the world
19:04will meet to decide a date for Francis' funeral
19:06and, of course, the all-important secretive conclave
19:09to elect a new pope.
19:11You'll remember it took five ballots for the world to learn
19:13Francis had been elected.
19:15There is a lot of anticipating, waiting for that signal,
19:18the famous white smoke.
19:19And he was a surprise, the first Jesuit,
19:21the first Latin American.
19:22And from the start, he was to be a pope for the poor
19:25and those on the margins.
19:26So who will be the next pope?
19:29Well, Francis appointed some 80% of the cardinals
19:31who will vote this time,
19:33and it'll be the most diverse group on record.
19:35But that doesn't necessarily mean the next pope
19:37will be in Francis' image.
19:38Remember, he was an unorthodox choice at the time.
19:41His humble, tolerant, modest way was something new.
19:44And the church still has deep divisions,
19:47with the conservative wing very outspoken
19:49against Francis during his papacy.
19:51They will still have a strong voice in that conclave.
19:54It'll happen in the Sistine Chapel,
19:56where the cardinals will be sequestered.
19:57That's no contact with the outside world.
19:59They'll vote four times a day.
20:01If they can't get to a two-thirds majority,
20:03you'll see black smoke emerge from that chimney.
20:05The smoke will turn white once a new pope is elected.
20:08The longest it's taken in modern times is five days.
20:10We'll be here, and I know, David, you will be too.
20:13That's for sure, James Longman.
20:15Our thanks to you.
20:15I'll be joining James from the Vatican for the funeral
20:17and, of course, the conclave,
20:18and right back here tomorrow.
20:19I'll see you then.
20:20Good night.
20:20Thank you for making World News Tonight
20:24with David Muir, America's most watched newscast.