Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed on Monday morning. He died at 7:35 AM after a long illness, according to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who made the announcement on Vatican TV.
“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” he said.
“The Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, Francis was the first pope from Latin America and the first from the Jesuit order. He became the head of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
When Francis took over, the Church was facing serious internal challenges, including widespread anger over child sex abuse scandals and deep divisions within the Vatican leadership. He was elected with a clear goal: to clean up the system and restore faith in the Church.
Throughout his 12-year papacy, Francis remained a powerful and often controversial figure. While many praised his efforts to make the Church more inclusive, some conservatives accused him of moving too far from tradition.
One of his most notable changes was allowing priests to bless same-sex couples in certain cases. He also appointed women to important leadership roles in the Vatican for the first time and held large summits to discuss difficult issues like the role of women in the Church and its teachings on sexuality.
Despite criticism from both the left and the right, Francis became a beloved figure for many around the world. He visited more than 65 countries, championed the rights of migrants, and often spoke out on global poverty and climate change.
His health had been declining in recent years. He suffered from several illnesses during his time as pope and had recently survived a severe case of double pneumonia.
