Cardinal Hummes, close to Pope Francis, dies at 87

Cardinal Claudio Hummes, the Brazilian Catholic cardinal who inspired Pope Francis to pick his name after the 2013 conclave, died on Monday at the age of 87. He was one of the country's main religious leaders and a strong advocate for the poor.

Hummes had been archbishop of Sao Paulo and, before that, of the city of Fortaleza. Pope John Paul II made him Sao Paulo's archbishop in 1998 and three years later the Brazilian became a cardinal.

Hummes was sitting near Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio during the latest conclave, and, according to the pope himself, the Brazilian encouraged him as the vote neared the end.

Francis decided to name himself after St. Francis of Assisi, who was particularly devoted to caring for the poor.