The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis died of a stroke and subsequent irreversible heart failure on Monday. He was 88 years old.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo announced in the early Monday monring.
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. 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 God, One and Tribune.”
The pontiff recently spent five weeks in a Rome hospital, battling against a life-threatening bout of double pneumonia.
He returned to the Vatican and lighter duties towards the end of March.
Our journalists are working on this story and will update it as soon as more information becomes available.