The Vatican has just announced that Pope Francis has died.
The pontiff was 88 years old when he passed away on Monday morning.
His death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell in a statement released by the Vatican.
He said: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.
“At 7.35 am this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.
“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 the One and Triune God.”
The conclave, the process for choosing a new pope, generally takes place between 15 and 20 days after the death of a pontiff.
Francis, who was Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church, became pope in 2013 after his predecessor Benedict XVI resigned.
In recent years, his papacy has been marked by several hospital visits and concerns about his health.
On 14 February, the Pope was admitted to the hospital for bronchitis treatment.
In the days that followed, the Vatican said he had been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia.
He had blood transfusions after tests revealed he had low levels of platelets in his blood, which is associated with anaemia.
On 22 February, it said the Pope was in a critical condition after a “prolonged respiratory crisis” that required a high flow of oxygen.
The next day, the Vatican said Francis was showing an “initial, mild” kidney failure.
In the following days, thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square to pray for his recovery.
Others went to the Rome hospital where he was staying to leave flowers and cards.
He remained in the hospital for the rest of the month.
Doctors had said that his condition remained “complex”.
On 6 March, his voice was heard in an audio message for the first time since being admitted to the hospital.
In the message, he thanked well-wishers, before adding: “I am with you from here.”
On Sunday, he greeted crowds at the Easter Sunday Service, a day after meeting Vice President JD Vance.
His 38-day hospital stay ended on 23 March when he made his first public appearance in five weeks on a balcony at Gemelli, where he smiled and gave a thumbs up to the crowds gathered outside.
He returned to the Vatican, making a surprise stop at his favourite basilica on the way home, before beginning two months of prescribed rest and recovery.
Doctors said Francis would have access to supplemental oxygen and 24-hour medical care as needed.
They added that while the pneumonia infection had been successfully treated, the pontiff would continue to take oral medication for quite some time to treat the fungal infection in his lungs and continue his respiratory and physical physiotherapy.
Born in 1936, Francis was the first pope from South America.
His papacy was marked by his championing of those escaping war and hunger, as well as those in poverty, earning him the moniker the “People’s Pope.”
However, he was often accused of being too liberal as he leaned into left-wing and globalist politics.
Yet, in April 2024, Francis appeared to reiterate the Vatican’s staunch opposition to gender reassignment, surrogacy, abortion, and euthanasia by signing the text “Dignitas Infinita” (Infinite Dignity).
In the same year, his own liberal credentials were questioned after reports that he used a homophobic slur behind closed doors.
As a young man in his native Argentina, Francis had part of one lung removed.
In the last few years of his life, Francis needed a wheelchair or a cane to get around and limited his public speaking while struggling with bronchitis and the flu.
Francis first spent time in the hospital as pope in 2021 for an operation to remove part of his colon.
In June 2023, he was admitted to the hospital for an operation on his intestine.
At the time, the Vatican said he had been suffering “recurrent, painful and worsening” symptoms caused by an abdominal hernia.
His recent health issues meant he was forced to miss significant events in the Roman Catholic calendar, including the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome’s Colosseum last year.
In 2022, he hinted he might step down if his health deteriorated after he was pictured using a wheelchair due to mobility issues caused by a flare-up of sciatica, a nerve condition that causes leg pain.
His predecessor, the late Benedict XVI, became the first pope to resign in more than 600 years in 2013 instead of serving for life, and died in 2022.
The Pope’s original name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, and he previously served as a bishop in Buenos Aires.
An estimated 1.4 billion Catholics across the world will mourn Francis’ passing.
This is a breaking news story.
Please check back for updates.
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