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Vatican announces death of Pope Francis aged 88 Vatican announces death of Pope Francis aged 88
(about 3 hours later)
Pope Francis became the Roman Catholic Church's spiritual leader in 2013
Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.
The Vatican's announcement of his death came just a day after he appeared in a wheelchair at St Peter's Square to wish thousands of worshipers gathered there a "Happy Easter". The Vatican announced his death a day after he appeared in a wheelchair at St Peter's Square to lead an Easter address in front of thousands of worshipers.
Pope Francis was discharged from hospital last month after five weeks of treatment for an infection that led to double pneumonia. The Pope's death follows a period of ill-health that saw him spend five weeks in hospital with double pneumonia.
Catholics around the world have been mourning his death and crowds of well-wishers have begun arriving at the Vatican. Services have been held around the world as the word's 1.4bn Catholics begin to mark the Pope's death, and mourners have started to arrive at the Vatican.
Among those who have paid tribute to him was Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who praised him as "great man" and said she had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, advice and teachings. Francis, who was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected as Pope in 2013.
King Charles, who met with the Pope privately earlier this month during his state visit to Italy, said in a statement that he was "deeply saddened" to hear of the Pope's death. In a statement published by the Vatican early on Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell said: "This morning at 07:35 local time (05:35 GMT) the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was devoted in service to the Lord and His Church.
"His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others." "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.
The news of the Pope's death was announced by the Vatican in a statement.
"This morning at 07:35 local time (05:35 GMT) the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father," Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in the statement, published by the Vatican.
"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," he 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 of the One and Triune God.""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."
LIVE UPDATES: Pope Francis dies aged 88LIVE UPDATES: Pope Francis dies aged 88
ANALYSIS: The Pope from Latin America who changed Catholic ChurchANALYSIS: The Pope from Latin America who changed Catholic Church
EXPLAINER: What next after the death of Pope Francis?EXPLAINER: What next after the death of Pope Francis?
The acting head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of York, described him as a "holy man of God" who was "also very human". WATCH: The pontiff's last public appearance on Easter Sunday
"Francis's whole life and ministry was centred on Jesus who comes among us not to be served, but to serve," Stephen Cottrell said in a statement. IN PICTURES: Defining images of the first Latin American pope
"Rest in peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!" US President Donald Trump wrote on social media. In the next 24 hours, Pope Francis's body will be moved to the Chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Vatican guesthouse where he opted to live after becoming Pope, as opposed to the more lavish papal apartment used by his predecessors.
Trump's Vice-President, JD Vance, who met the Pope on Easter Sunday, said his "heart goes out" to Christians. Cardinal Farrell - who holds the position of camerlengo, the cardinal who oversees the transition to a new Pope - will be joined by other senior church figures and Francis's family later on Monday when he presides over the official confirmation of the pontiff's death.
"I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill," he said. Francis's death sets in motion the process of selecting a new Pope through an election known as a conclave, which typically takes place 15 and 20 days after a Pope's death.
The governing of the Catholic Church will now be handled by the College of Cardinals, its most senior officials, until a new Pope is chosen in an election known as conclave.
Later on Monday, Pope Francis's body will be moved to the Chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae, the guest house inside the Vatican where he had lived since becoming Pope, unlike his predecessors who lived in the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace.
At 20:00 (18:00 GMT), the cardinal whose task it is to handle the transition over the coming days, will preside over the confirmation of Francis's death as well as the placing of his body in a coffin. That is the role of the camerlengo - Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell. He will be joined by the Dean of the college of cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, and Francis's family.
Mourners gathered at St Peter's Square in Vatican City following the death of Pope FrancisMourners gathered at St Peter's Square in Vatican City following the death of Pope Francis
Pope Francis was last seen on Sunday in his wheelchair waving from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica to cheering crowds. Francis had endured bouts of ill-health in recent years, and was most recently discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital on 23 March after being treated for pneumonia in both lungs.
"Dear brothers and sisters, happy Easter," he said. The stay involved two "very critical episodes" which endangered his life, according to one of his doctors, and medics had advised a period of rest.
In his blessing, delivered by a clergy member, he said: "There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others." Francis continued to make some public appearances in his final weeks. Although the pontiff missed services on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, he did mark Holy Thursday with a traditional visit to Regina Coeli prison. However, he did not take part in the tradition of washing prisoner's feet.
"What a great thirst for death, for killing we see in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world." During his final public appearance on the balcony of St Peter's basilica on Easter Sunday, Francis spoke briefly but did not recite a full blessing, instead inviting an archbishop to do so on his behalf.
The Pope had struggled with his health in recent months, having spent five weeks in hospital with pneumonia in both lungs. Even so, his appearance on a key day in the Catholic calendar was celebrated by worshipers.
During his time in hospital, he presented "two very critical episodes" where his "life was in danger", according to one of his doctors.
He has suffered a number of health issues throughout his life, including having part of one of his lungs removed at age 21, making him more prone to infections.
Francis's papacy heralded many firsts and while he never stopped introducing reforms to the Catholic Church, he remained popular among traditionalists
IN PICTURES: Defining images of the first Latin American popeIN PICTURES: Defining images of the first Latin American pope
WATCH: The pontiff's last public appearance on Easter SundayWATCH: The pontiff's last public appearance on Easter Sunday
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, was the first non-European Pope in centuries, after Syrian-born Gregory III who died in 741. In the hours after his death was confirmed, tributes poured in from around the globe.
He was also the first Jesuit to be elected to the throne of St Peter. Jesuits were historically looked on with suspicion by Rome. The acting head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of York, described him as a "holy man of God" who was "also very human".
Francis's predecessor, Benedict XVI, was the first Pope to retire voluntarily in almost 600 years and for almost a decade the Vatican Gardens hosted two popes. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised the Pope as a "great man" and said she had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, advice and teachings.
Pope Francis was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 17 December 1936. His parents had fled their native Italy to escape fascism. In his early life, he worked as a nightclub bouncer and floor sweeper, before graduating as a chemist. King Charles III, who met with the Pope privately in early April during his state visit to Italy, said in a statement that he was "deeply saddened" to hear of the Pope's death and praised his "tireless commitment".
Ahead of becoming the head of the Catholic Church in 2013, he presented himself as a compromise candidate by appealing to conservatives while attracting the reformers with his liberal stance on social justice. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer shared his condolences "to the whole of the Catholic Church" and called the pontiff a "Pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten".
US President Donald Trump wrote on social media: "Rest in peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!"
From Buenos Aires to the Vatican
Before he took the name Francis as his papal name, the Pope was called Jorge Mario Bergoglio
He was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his parents had fled to from their native Italy to escape fascism.
In 2013, Francis's predecessor Benedict XVI became the first Pope to retire voluntarily in almost 600 years - and for almost a decade, the Vatican was home to two Popes.
Francis was chosen to succeed him during the conclave that followed Benedict's departure, and became the first non-European Pope since Syrian-born Gregory III, who died in 741.
During his early life, Francis worked as a nightclub bouncer and floor sweeper, before graduating as a chemist.
Prior to being elected as Pope, Francis positioned himself as a compromise candidate by appealing to conservatives while attracting the reformers with his liberal stance on social justice.
His early actions as Pope included washing the feet of the elderly and prisoners and advocating for the rights of refugees and migrants.His early actions as Pope included washing the feet of the elderly and prisoners and advocating for the rights of refugees and migrants.
But on many of the Church's teachings, Pope Francis was a traditionalist. There were warm words in favour of some kind of same-sex unions for gay couples, but Francis did not favour calling it marriage. This, he said, would be "an attempt to destroy God's plan". But on many of the Church's teachings, Pope Francis was a traditionalist.
He was at times supportive of some kind of same-sex unions for gay couples, but Francis did not favour calling it marriage. This, he said, would be "an attempt to destroy God's plan".
Shortly after becoming Pope, he took part in an anti-abortion march in Rome - calling for rights of the unborn "from the moment of conception".Shortly after becoming Pope, he took part in an anti-abortion march in Rome - calling for rights of the unborn "from the moment of conception".
Francis's papacy heralded many firsts, and while he never stopped introducing reforms to the Catholic Church, he remained popular among many traditionalists.