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Learning English from the News

Upper intermediate level

Pope Francis dies

Episode 250423 / 23 Apr 2025

(Photo by Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)

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The story

Pope Francis died on Monday morning, aged 88, after leading the Roman Catholic Church for more than a decade.

His funeral will take place on Saturday and will be attended by leaders from around the world.

Pope Francis was the first non-European Pope in centuries and the first to come from the Americas.

His death now starts a political process for the Catholic Church to select a new leader. A group of the Catholic Church’s most senior officials – cardinals – will vote for a new Pope in an election known as a conclave.

News headlines

The Down-to-Earth Pope: Pope Francis Has Died at Eighty-eight
New Yorker

Crowds gather to pay respects to Pope Francis in Buenos Aires
Sky News

The Next Pope: Who Are The Frontrunners to Succeed Pope Francis?
News Week

Key words and phrases

down-to-earth
humble and modest 

  • The company’s CEO is very down-to-earth. He always asks me about my family.

pay respects
acknowledge and honour someone who has died

  • She laid flowers at her mother’s grave to pay her respects.

frontrunner
someone who is likely to win something like a competition or election

  • She’s the frontrunner in the presidential race – everyone thinks she’s going to win.

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