Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a revered figure of global compassion, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced.
He passed away at 07:35 local time on Easter Monday, just a day after addressing thousands in St Peter’s Square with a cheerful “Happy Easter” message.
The Pope had recently been discharged from hospital following a five-week battle with an infection.
World leaders and faithful around the globe are mourning the loss of a man widely admired for his humility, empathy, and reformist approach to the Church.
French President Emmanuel Macron described him as a “man of humility” whose “contagious smile and boundless compassion inspired millions.”
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, made history in 2013 when he became the 266th pontiff and the first from the Southern Hemisphere.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced shortly.
