Pope Francis dies at 88, day after celebrating Easter

Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died at the age of 88, the Vatican said in a video statement on Monday.

He was 88 and had suffered various ailments in his 12-year papacy.

"This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT) the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father," said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in the statement published by the Vatican on its Telegram channel.

World mourns Pope Francis death. Follow LIVE Updates

On Sunday, Pope Francis called for freedom of thought and tolerance in his Easter Sunday address.

After giving his Easter greetings to the crowd, estimated at more than 35,000 people, from the basilica's balcony, Francis delegated the reading of his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the City and the World") benediction to an associate.

"There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others," read his speech, which also condemned "worrisome" anti-Semitism, and the "dramatic and deplorable" situation in Gaza.

Pope Francis' legacy

Known for his humble demeanour and deep compassion for the poor, Pope Francis won admiration around the globe. Elected in 2013 after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, he brought a fresh, humble tone to the papacy.

Francis earned the nickname "the pope of the slums" for his deep commitment to the poor and marginalised. Throughout his ministry — both in Argentina and as pope — he regularly visited impoverished communities, advocating for social justice and the Church’s role as a refuge for the overlooked and oppressed.

He made waves for welcoming migrants, LGBTQ Catholics, and others often excluded by the Church.

What lies ahead for the Vatican

The College of Cardinals, the Church's most senior officials worldwide, chooses the pope. Following a pope’s death or resignation, the cardinals are summoned to the Vatican for the papal election or conclave.

The conclave usually starts 15 to 20 days after the pope’s death to allow time for mourning and for all cardinals to arrive in Rome. As per the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the cardinals are brought together at the historic Sistine Chapel at the Vatican for the papal election.

Pope Francis was discharged from hospital on March 23

Pope Francis was released from the hospital on March 23, after five weeks of treatment for pneumonia.

For the first time since becoming pope in 2013, Francis missed most Holy Week events, such as Friday's Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum and Easter vigil at Saint Peter's Basilica, where he delegated his duties to cardinals.

Francis, originally from Argentina and the first pope from the Americas, was also the first pope in more than a century to live outside the Vatican's apostolic palace, an ornate Italian Renaissance building located next to St. Peter's Square.

Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis, who is said to have never taken holidays, followed a frenetic schedule that he had repeatedly refused to reduce, despite his advancing age and warnings from doctors to slow down.

(With agencies inputs)