Pope Francis, the first Latin American chief of the Roman Catholic Church, died at the age of 88.
“This morning at 07:35, local time (05:35 GMT) The bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the father’s home,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in the press release, published by the Vatican on his telegram channel.
His death occurs after his appearance on Sunday at Place Saint-Pierre du Vatican to wish “Happy Easter” to thousands of faithful.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, was released from hospital last month after five weeks of treatment for an infection that led to double pneumonia.
Tributes around the world have flocked. The chief of actor of the Church of England, the archbishop of York, described him as a “holy man of God” who was “also very human”.
“All the life and the ministry of Francis were centered on Jesus who comes from us not to be served, but to serve,” said Stephen Cottrell in a statement.
American vice-president JD Vance, who met the Pope on Easter Sunday, said that his “heart is going out” to Christians.
French president Emmanuel Macron said that Pope Francis was “still on the side of the most vulnerable”, while Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said that the pontiff was “in all ways of a man of the people”.
The Pope’s last public appearance took place on Easter Sunday, when he was seen in his holding wheelchair from the Balcony of the Saint-Pierre Basilica to the crowd.
“Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter,” he said.
In his Easter blessing, delivered by a member of the clergy, he said: “There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the opinions of others.”
“What a beautiful thirst for death, for having killed that we see in the many conflicts that rage in different parts of the world.”
The church government will now be managed by the Cardinal College, its senior officials, until the new Pope is chosen. There are currently 252 Catholic cardinals, 138 of which are eligible to vote for the new Pope.
They will be summoned to a meeting at the Vatican, followed by the conclave, as the elections are known.
The pope had had trouble with his health in recent months, after spending five weeks in the hospital with pneumonia in both lungs.
During his stay in hospital, he presented “two very critical episodes” where his “life was in danger”, according to one of his doctors.
He has undergone a number of health problems throughout his life, in particular by being part of one of his lungs removed at 21, which makes him more subject to infections.
Francis’ papacy has announced many first and although he has never stopped introducing reforms to the Catholic Church, he remained popular among traditionalists.
He was the first non -European pope for centuries, after Gregory III of Syrian origin, who died in 741.
He was also the first Jesuit to be elected on the throne of Saint-Pierre. The Jesuits were historically watched with suspicion by Rome.
