Pope Francis died on Easter Monday.
He was 88.
The pontiff’s death follows months of ill health and a long hospital stay. He was admitted to Gemelli hospital in Rome on Feb. 14 after experiencing bronchitis symptoms. When he was young, he had a small part of one lung removed, per CNN.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced the pope’s death Monday morning.
“Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” per a statement from the camerlengo.
“At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His whole life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.”
Farrell announced, “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of 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 the Triune God,” Farrell said.
He was the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years and hailed from Argentina.
Pope was seen on Easter Sunday when he gave the traditional Easter blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and appeared in the Popemonile.
He also briefly met with Vice President JD Vance.
