Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88. The Vatican announced the news in a video statement on Monday morning.
"Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow we announce the death of our Holy Father, Francis. At 7:35 am on Monday he returned to the house of the Lord," Cardinal Kevin Farrell said on Vatican television, stressing that Francis had dedicated his entire life to the service of God and the Church.
The 88-year-old, who had suffered from a series of health problems during his 12 years at the helm of the Holy See, was recently hospitalized with severe pneumonia. He died at his residence, Casa Santa Maria, in the Vatican, a day after appearing before supporters in St. Peter's Square to wish them a happy Easter.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope on March 13, 2013, surprising many in the Catholic world, who had seen the Argentine cleric known for his commitment to supporting the poor as an outsider. He tried to project simplicity into his grand role and refused to live in the pompous papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors.
He inherited a Church under attack over the sex abuse scandal, Vatican bureaucracy and was elected with a clear mandate to restore order. But as his papacy progressed, he faced criticism from conservatives who accused him of violating the Church's traditions. He also angered progressives who felt more should have been done to reshape the 2,000-year-old Church.
While facing domestic discontent, Francis became a global star, gathering huge crowds of supporters on many of his trips abroad, while tirelessly promoting interfaith dialogue and peace, always taking the side of the most marginalized communities, such as migrants. In a unique event for modern times, there were two men in white robes in the Vatican for much of Francis' papacy, while his predecessor Benedict continued to live in the Holy See after his shocking resignation in 2013.
Benedict, a hero of the conservative cause, died in December 2022, leaving Francis alone on the papal stage. Francis appointed nearly 80 percent of the cardinals who will now elect the new pope, raising the possibility that his successor will also continue with progressive policies.
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