Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, the Vatican has announced. The pontiff, who served as Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church since 2013, passed away early this morning, according to a statement from Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Farrell said. “At 7:35 a.m. this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.”
The Vatican added that Pope Francis spent his final years battling a series of health issues, including pneumonia, bronchitis, and complications related to his lungs. He had recently completed a prolonged 38-day hospital stay and returned to the Vatican in March for continued medical care and recovery.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis made history as the first Jesuit and the first Latin American to assume the papacy. He was widely regarded as a transformative and humble figure who worked to bring the Catholic Church closer to the marginalized and to modern global challenges.
In his decade-long papacy, Pope Francis became a powerful voice for social justice, immigration rights, and environmental protection. He pushed for financial reforms in the Vatican, took firm stances against clerical sexual abuse, and consistently advocated for dialogue and peace across religious and political divides.
His efforts to shift the Church’s tone toward inclusivity, compassion, and engagement with contemporary issues earned him praise as well as criticism, but cemented his legacy as one of the most influential pontiffs in recent history.
The process for selecting a new pope, known as the conclave, is expected to begin within 15 to 20 days, following Catholic tradition.
Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy marked by humility, courage, and a relentless commitment to the values of the Gospel in a complex and rapidly changing world.
