Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, a senior Vatican official has announced.
Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell said on Monday: “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.
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune."
Pope Francis emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless the thousands of people in St Peter’s Square and treat them to a surprise popemobile drive through the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause.
Francis did not celebrate Easter Mass in the piazza, delegating it to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St Peter’s Basilica.
But after the Mass ended, Francis appeared on the loggia balcony over the basilica entrance for more than 20 minutes and imparted the apostolic blessing in Latin.
He was outside on a sunny spring day for about 50 minutes, with temperatures at 21C in a piazza awash in daffodils, tulips and other flowers donated by the Netherlands for Easter.
On his way to the basilica, Francis briefly met US vice president JD Vance, who was spending Easter in Rome with his family.
Francis only appeared in public a handful of times since returning to the Vatican on March 23 after a 38-day hospital stay.
He missed the solemn services of Good Friday and Holy Saturday leading up to Easter.
The 88-year-old pope was taken to hospital on February 14 after a long bout with bronchitis that left him breathless at times, and which quickly developed into double pneumonia and revealed a polymicrobial (viral, bacterial and fungal) respiratory infection.
