Pope Francis in 2021.
Obligated attribution: Quirinale.it
Attribution: Quirinale.it
Pope Francis, the Argentinian pope of the Catholic Church, died Easter Monday morning at 7:35 a.m. Vatican time (10:35 p.m. Pacific Time), the Vatican announced.
Pope Francis was 88.
A papal conclave will be convened to select the next pope.
On Easter, he had met briefly with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and made a public appearance with an Easter blessing on the balcony at St. Peter's Basicila in the Vatican.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, whose task is overseeing the property, announced the death.
The Vatican reported Farrell said of Pope Francis: "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 fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. 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 the One and Triune God."
He was the church's first Latin American pope.
In February, Pope Francis had been sick, and later had pneumonia, but was recovering at his home.
Pope Francis was elected pope in 2013 after the resignation of pontiff Pope Benedict XVI who left after declining faculties. Pope Benedict XVI died in 2022.
