Pope Francis, the pioneering Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday.
The Vatican announced that he succumbed to a stroke, less than 24 hours after he was seen in a wheelchair at St Peter’s Square, delivering an Easter address to a vast gathering of worshippers.
This serene leader’s passing comes after a challenging period of ill-health, which included a five-week hospitalization due to double pneumonia.
Worldwide, services are being conducted as approximately 1.4 billion Catholics begin to observe his passing. Meanwhile, mourners are making their way to the Vatican to pay their respects.
Francis, a native of the vibrant city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, ascended to the papacy in the year 2013.
In an announcement released by the Vatican on the morning of Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell declared that the pope had ‘returned to the home of the Father.’
The declaration further elaborated: ‘He inspired us to embrace the Gospel’s virtues with unwavering loyalty, bravery, and a love that transcends all borders, particularly advocating for the destitute and those on the fringes of society.’
Later, the Vatican confirmed that Francis passed away following a stroke and subsequent irreversible heart failure at approximately 07:35 local time (05:30 GMT; 06:30 BST).