Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and history’s first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor, has died aged 88, the Vatican confirmed on Monday morning.
“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,″ Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said in an announcement.
Following the annoucement, bells tolled in church towers across Rome after.
Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936. He was elected in March 2013 following Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation. His papacy was distinguished by efforts to reform the Vatican bureaucracy, a stronger emphasis on social justice and climate change, and a more inclusive approach to issues affecting LGBTQ+ Catholics, migration, and economic injustice.
The Pope had battled various health issues in recent years, including surgery on his colon in 2021 and recurring respiratory infections On February 14, 2025, he was was admitted to Gemeli hospital for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.
