Pope Francis Died, Vatican Says In Video Statement

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.

In the days that followed, the Vatican said he had been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and that he had blood transfusions after tests revealed he had low levels of platelets in his blood, which is associated with anaemia. On 22 February, it said the Pope was in a critical condition after a “prolonged respiratory crisis” that required a high flow of oxygen, and the next day the Vatican said Francis was showing an “initial, mild” kidney failure.

In the following days, thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square to pray for his recovery, as others went to the Rome hospital where he was staying to leave flowers and cards. He remained in hospital for the rest of the month, with doctors saying that his condition remained “complex”.

Francis was born in 1936. He was the first pope from South America. His papacy was marked by his championing of those escaping war and hunger, as well as those in poverty, earning him the moniker the “People’s Pope”. He came in lime light in 2016 when he washed the feet of refugees from different religion at an asylum centre outside Rome in a gesture of humility and service.

He also made his views known on a wide range of issues, from climate change to wealth inequality and the role of women in the Catholic Church. His acceptance of the LGBTQ community was unprecedented – beginning with an unexpected remark to reporters on a flight back from Brazil about gay clergy.