Pope Francis dies
The Vatican announced that Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88.
"Dear brothers and sisters, it is with deep sadness that I must announce the death of the Pope. At 7:35 this morning (12:35 Hanoi time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father," Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on Vatican television on April 21.
The Pope died a day after he appeared in the Popemobile and moved through St. Peter's Square, while tens of thousands of believers were gathering at the Vatican for Easter Mass.
This was his first appearance among a crowd of believers since being discharged from the hospital in late March.
Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is the eldest son of Italian immigrants. Before entering the priesthood, he studied chemical engineering and worked in a laboratory.
He was ordained a priest in 1969 and gradually took on important roles, from provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina to Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. In 2001, he was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II. He is known for his simple lifestyle, closeness to the poor, and frequent use of public transport.
He became leader of the Catholic Church on March 13, 2013, after Pope Benedict XVI resigned on February 28, 2013, marking the first time a pope has come from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere. He has chosen to live in the Casa Santa Marta, the residence for priests working in the Vatican, instead of the traditional papal residence.
He was the first pope born and raised outside Europe in 12 centuries, the first from the Americas, and the first Jesuit to hold the office.
Pope Francis has led the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics since 2013. He has been confined to a wheelchair or using a cane for more than a year after undergoing several surgeries, including gastric bypass surgery.
Traditionally, the death of a Pope is followed by nine days of official mourning. More than 140 cardinals will arrive in the Vatican within 15 to 20 days to begin the conclave to elect a new Pope.
