Pope Francis has passed away.
The Vatican announced that Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88.
"Dear brothers and sisters in faith, with deep sorrow I must announce the passing 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 traveled through St. Peter's Square, while tens of thousands of faithful were gathered at the Vatican for Easter Mass.
This was his first public appearance since being discharged from the hospital at the end of March.
Pope Francis, whose birth name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was the eldest son in a family 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 assumed important roles, from Provincial Superior of the Jesuit Order in Argentina to Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. In 2001, he was made a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II. He was known for his simple lifestyle, closeness to the poor, and frequent use of public transport.
He became the leader of the Catholic Church on March 13, 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on February 28, 2013, marking the first time a Pope from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere had been elected. He did not reside in the traditional papal residence, but chose to live in the Casa Santa Marta, the residence of priests working at the Vatican.
He was the first Pope born and raised outside of Europe in 12 centuries, the first from the Americas, and the first Jesuit to hold the office.
Pope Francis has led 1.3 billion Roman Catholics worldwide since 2013. He has been confined to a wheelchair or cane for over a year after undergoing several surgeries, including stomach surgery.
Traditionally, the death of the Pope is followed by a nine-day period of official mourning. More than 140 cardinals will arrive at the Vatican within 15 to 20 days to begin the conclave to elect a new Pope.
