VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church and a transformative figure in Vatican history, has died at the age of 88. His death was confirmed by Cardinal Kevin Farrell in a video statement released Monday by Vatican Media.
“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Farrell said. “At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
The Argentine-born pontiff, formerly Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected in 2013 and quickly became known for his humility, progressive tone, and efforts to reform the Church. His papacy was marked by internal tensions, particularly over issues like LGBTQ+ inclusion, financial transparency, and clerical abuse scandals.
Pope Francis survived a serious case of double pneumonia earlier this year, following years of declining health. He was the first Jesuit pope and the first non-European pontiff since Syrian-born Gregory III, who died in 741.
Francis succeeded Pope Benedict XVI, who made history by resigning in 2013—the first to do so in nearly 600 years. For a decade, two popes lived within Vatican walls, a symbol of an evolving, complex era in Church leadership.
