Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the first pontiff from the Americas, has died at the age of 88. The Vatican announced his passing on Monday morning.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo tasked with overseeing Church affairs between papacies, made the official announcement from St Peter’s Basilica, stating that the Pope died peacefully at 7:35 a.m. local time in the Vatican.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father,” Farrell said. “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church.”
Farrell praised the late Pope for embodying Gospel values, highlighting his compassion for the poor and marginalized. “With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God,” he added.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, Pope Francis was elected in March 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation. His papacy was defined by a commitment to reforming the Vatican bureaucracy, addressing climate change, promoting social justice, and adopting a more inclusive stance on issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, migration, and economic inequality.
In recent years, he faced several health challenges, including colon surgery in 2021 and repeated respiratory infections. Nonetheless, he remained active in his duties, traveling extensively and maintaining a public presence until shortly before his death.
