Breaking: Pope Francis Dies Aged 88, as Vatican Confirms Pontiff’s death

Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and the first from the Americas, has died aged 88, the Vatican confirmed on Monday morning.  In an emotional announcement from St Peter’s Basilica, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo responsible for administering the Church between papacies, said the Pope had passed away peacefully in the Vatican at 7:35am local time.

“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,″ Farrell said in the announcement.  “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.

“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 God, One and Tribune.″

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, Pope Francis was elected in March 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. His papacy was marked by efforts to reform the Vatican bureaucracy, greater focus on social justice and climate change, and a more inclusive tone on issues concerning LGBTQ+ Catholics, migration, and economic inequality.  The Pope had battled various health issues in recent years, including surgery on his colon in 2021 and recurring respiratory infections. Despite this, he continued to travel widely and maintained a full public schedule until his final weeks.