Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88, according to an official statement from the Vatican.
In a message shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Vatican announced that the pontiff died peacefully in his residence.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he was elected pope on March 13, 2013, becoming the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church.
Francis had recently battled a severe case of double pneumonia but had shown signs of recovery.
“With deep sorrow, I announce the passing of our Holy Father, Francis,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in a broadcast on Vatican television. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome returned to the house of the Father.”
During his papacy, Pope Francis faced criticism from both ends of the ideological spectrum. Traditionalists accused him of abandoning time-honored customs, while progressives expressed disappointment that he had not gone far enough in reforming the ancient institution.