Pope Francis Dies at 88 after Decade-Long Papacy

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed on Easter Monday. He passed away at 07:35 local time, just a day after delivering his Easter message in St Peter’s Square. Elected in 2013 at age 76, he was the first Jesuit, the first pope from the Americas and the first non-European to lead the Catholic Church in over 1,200 years. 

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, he led 1.4 billion Catholics for more than a decade. His papacy was marked by advocacy for the poor, action on climate change, and calls for unity in a divided world. 

His death follows a period of declining health; he had recently been discharged from hospital after treatment for a persistent infection but appeared briefly on Easter Sunday, offering his final blessing.. His tenure will be remembered for its historic firsts and efforts to modernize the Church. The Vatican now begins a period of mourning and prepares for the conclave to elect his successor.