Cardinals are gathering at the Vatican Tuesday to determine the date for the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88.
According to an official Vatican statement, the pontiff died from a stroke and subsequent irreversible heart failure.
The death of Pope Francis, the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church, has sparked a global outpouring of grief.
From the streets of South Sudan to Buenos Aires, Warsaw to Manila, tributes have poured in from the faithful across five continents, with many recalling his humility, progressive stance on social issues, and tireless advocacy for the poor.
As it stands, the College of Cardinals is expected to begin the series of formal meetings that will eventually lead to a conclave, where a new leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics will be elected.
