POPE Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic church, has died aged 88 after fighting for his life in a “complex” health battle.
The pontiff had been hospitalised for weeks at the Gemelli hospital in Rome after suffering a bout of bronchitis and double pneumonia.
APPope Francis appears frail on the central lodge of St. Peter’s Basilica[/caption]
GettyPope Francis attends the Urbi et Orbi Message to the World at the central Loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, on April 20[/caption]
GettyPope Francis greets a little girl during the Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square on April 20[/caption]
AFPPope Francis at the main balcony of St Peter’s Basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city[/caption]
RexPope Francis meets with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City[/caption]
AFPPope Francis has died aged 88[/caption]
Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced in a statement: “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.”
Pope Francis’ tragic death has plunged 1.4billion Catholics across the globe into mourning.
It comes just a day after the pontiff appeared in public to mark Easter Sunday and bless thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square.
Francis also met with US Vice President JD Vance during an audience chat at Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City.
The crowd shouted and cheered as a frail-looking Francis looped through the square in his open-topped popemobile and then up and down the main avenue leading to it.
He stopped occasionally to bless babies brought up to him, just weeks after fighting for his life.
“Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!” Francis said.
Tributes are pouring in for the pontiff from across the world.
Vance, who is now in India after meeting the pope yesterday, said: “I just learned about the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said that throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis had always sided with the most vulnerable and the most fragile, and that he did this with a lot of humility.
“In this time of war and brutality, he had a sense for the other, for the most fragile,” Macron told reporters.
The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, paid tribute to Pope Francis, saying: “A voice proclaiming the innate dignity of every human being, especially those who are poor or marginalised, is now silent.”
Dutch PM Dick Schoof said: “Pope Francis was in every way a man of the people, the clobal catholic community bids farewell to a leader who recognised the burning issues of our day and called attention to them.”
The pontiff had been suffering from his latest bout of bronchitis for days and was admitted to the hospital.
His condition appeared to worsen as doctors had to change treatment for the Pope’s respiratory tract infection due to a “complex clinical situation”.
And it was then confirmed he was suffering from double pneumonia after undergoing an X-Ray.
Pope Francis was unable to lead a special mass for artists to mark the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year.
The 88-year-old underwent blood transfusions and was described as “more unwell” than the day before and in a “critical” condition.
The Vatican said at the time that “the prognosis is reserved”.
But, two people close to the Pontiff claimed Francis told them he “might not make it this time”, according to a report by Politico.
He had reportedly warned his aides that he might not survive his battle this time.
Francis added that he had been particularly touched by the drawings and letters from children, thanking the faithful for their prayers and offering to entrust everyone to Mary’s intercession.
He said: “In recent days I have received many messages of affection, and I have been particularly struck by the letters and drawings from children.
“Thank you for this closeness, and for the prayers of comfort I have received from all over the world! I entrust you all to the intercession of Mary, and I ask you to pray for me.”
Francis, who has led the Catholic Church since 2013, has a history of lung problems, having had part of one lung removed due to pleurisy as a young man.
He had spent 12 years working as the church’s most beloved figure after succeeding Pope Benedict XVI.
The Argentine had worked as a bouncer before turning to the priesthood after recovering from pneumonia back in 1958.
ReutersUS President Donald Trump and Pope Francis meet at the Vatican in May 2017[/caption]
ReutersPope Francis speaks with the then Prince Charles in October 2019[/caption]
EPAPope Francis and Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin in July 2019[/caption]
AFPThe Pope with a delegation of world leaders – including Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak – at the G7 in 2024[/caption]
EPAThe Pope welcomes Leonardo di Caprio in 2016[/caption]
Arthur Edwards / The SunPictured with the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2014[/caption]
AFPThe Pope shakes hands with Angelina Jolie in 2015[/caption]
Francis took over the role of Pope in 2014 – and had been seen as an outspoken moderniser, reformist and progressive.
He had championed the decriminalisation of homosexuality, warned against threats to democracy, and supported the cause of refugees.
The religious leader had fought off a long history of health issues both as a young and old man, including three previous hospitalisations since he became the Pope in 2013.
Francis had part of his lung removed as a young man in Argentina and has suffered from reoccurring bouts of bronchitis.
He spent three days at the Gemelli hospital – which has a special suite for treating popes – in 2023 for an acute case of pneumonia.
The pontiff was rushed to hospital on 29 March, 2023, after he felt a sharp pain in his chest and experienced breathing difficulties.
He also spent nine days in hospital, just a few months later, for abdominal surgery.
This saw doctors remove scar tissue and repair an abdominal hernia.
The Pope also had a piece of his large intestine removed in 2021, and spent 10 days in the Gemelli hospital.
LIFE OF SERVICE
Pope Francis made history when he became the first leader of the Catholic Church from the Americas.
The 76-year-old Archbishop of Buenos Aires, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was given his new name after he was elected to succeed Pope Benedict XVI on 13 March, 2013.
He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 17 December, 1936, to Italian immigrants.
Francis was ordained a priest on 13 December 1969 and trained in Spain for a year before moving back to Argentina.
When he became the Pope, he shunned a grand papal apartment and chose to live in a modest two-room residence.
Pope Francis pictured as a young boy in this undated collect photoGetty
AP:Associated PressPope Francis (second from left in back row) in this undated picture as he poses with his family[/caption]
AP:Associated PressThe Pope when he was priest Jorge Mario Bergoglio in this picture taken in 1973 and released by journalist Sergio Rubin[/caption]
AFPHe served the church as Argentina’s cardinal[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationBergoglio washes the feet of his congregation[/caption]
AFPPope Benedict XVI meets the soon-to-be Pope Francis when he was still the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, at the Vatican, 13 January, 2007[/caption]
ReutersThe Pope during his first appearence in the role in 2013[/caption]
APPope Francis delivers his blessing from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square on February 2, 2025[/caption]
