Pope Francis dead: Catholic Church leader dies at 88

Pope Francis has died, the Vatican confirmed to the public on Monday, capping the end of a tenure seen by some as one of the more progressive in the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed to the public on Monday, capping the end of a tenure seen by some as one of the more progressive in the Roman Catholic Church.

“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” said Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell in a statement.

The statement continued: “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 the One and Triune God.”

The pope died following health challenges over recent months, including hospitalization several weeks ago for pneumonia and a complex lung infection, which required high levels of oxygen and blood transfusions.

With the Pope’s death, cardinals will convene in the Sistine Chapel in the days to come to elect the next pope, which could be decided within two weeks.

Francis, formerly Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was considered a dark horse candidate when he was chosen in 2013 to succeed Benedict XVI in 2013.

The first pope from the Americas in the history of the Church, he was also the first to take the name Francis – after the saint who was devoted to the poor.

As recently as April of 2023, Francis observed a Holy Thursday ritual of humility by washing the feet of prisoners – doing so at the same juvenile prison where he performed the same ceremony in the first year of his papacy.