Pope Francis has passed away: LUCE meme coin temporarily rose by 70%

According to Vatican News, Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away at 7:35 AM on April 21, 2025, at the Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City due to a stroke and heart failure, at the age of 88. This news shocked billions of Catholics around the world, leading to widespread mourning. Meanwhile, the Crypto Assets market showed volatility due to the pope's death. GMGN market data indicated that the meme coin LUCE, named after the mascot of the Vatican's 2025 Holy Year, briefly rose by 70%, with its market capitalization exceeding 15 million USD at one point, now retreating to 12 million USD.

Pope Francis, originally named Jorge Mario Bergoglio, is the first pope from Latin America. Since his inauguration in 2013, he has won hearts with his humble and approachable image. He refused to stay in the luxurious papal palace, opting instead for the simple Casa Santa Marta. He has publicly criticized the extravagance and privileges within the Church on multiple occasions. According to The Guardian, Pope Francis requested a simplified funeral in his will, stating that his body should not be buried in St. Peter's Basilica, but rather in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Rome, with a tombstone inscribed only with the word "Franciscus," reflecting his consistent low-key style.

During his 12-year term, Pope Francis promoted several reforms, advocated for inclusion and dialogue, and focused on global issues such as poverty, immigration, and climate change. He publicly called for an end to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and on the eve of Easter, disregarding doctors' advice, personally washed the feet of prisoners in a Roman jail, demonstrating compassion and action. However, his reforms have also sparked resistance from conservatives, with some believing that they are too radical and have altered traditional doctrine.

The news of the Pope's death not only triggered shocks in the religious and social fields but also unexpectedly ignited a speculative frenzy in the crypto assets market. LUCE, a meme coin named after the Vatican's 2025 Holy Year mascot "LUCE", was launched at the end of October 2024, with no official connection to the Vatican. According to crypto.news, after the announcement of the Pope's death, the price of LUCE rose by over 168% within 24 hours, reaching a peak of over 0.0255 USDT, and its market capitalization quickly climbed to over 80 million US dollars.

On platform X, accounts such as @MetaEraCN pointed out that the big pump of LUCE was due to the market's "emotional reaction" to the Pope's death, similar to the logic of related memorabilia appreciating after a celebrity's passing. @wwfhbz posted that LUCE, as a "limited edition relic" promoted by the Pope, may hit a market capitalization of 100 million dollars in the short term. However, experts warn that memes have extremely high volatility, and the price of LUCE has fallen back to 12 million dollars, so investors need to be cautious of risks.

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After the death of the pope, the Vatican enters a "Sede Vacante" period. According to CNN, American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, as the papal regent, is responsible for overseeing transitional affairs, including sealing the papal residence and certifying the death ceremony. Next, the College of Cardinals will hold a secret meeting (Conclave) to elect a new pope. Potential candidates include Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, and Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.

The death of Pope Francis has triggered mourning from global leaders and followers. The leader of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, has instructed the ambassador to the Vatican to attend the funeral, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that it will send officials of appropriate levels to pay respects. The people of Buenos Aires, Argentina, mourn outside the San José de Flores Cathedral, a place frequently visited by Pope Francis in his youth. The Vatican has announced a nine-day mourning period (Novemdiales), during which Pope Francis's body will be displayed for three days at St. Peter's Basilica before being moved to St. Mary’s Cathedral for burial.

The passing of Pope Francis marks the end of an era, and his legacy will continue to resonate within and outside the Catholic Church. The brief frenzy surrounding LUCE reflects the market's emotional reaction to significant events. It is worth keeping an eye on how the election of a new pope will affect the Church and the global landscape.

This article represents the author's personal views and does not reflect the position or views of this platform. This article is for informational sharing only and does not constitute any investment advice to anyone.

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