Pope Francis passed away at 88: Catholics in mourning as first Latin American pontiff dies after 12 years…

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday aged 88 after dedicating his ‘entire life’ to serving God and the Church, the Vatican announced today.

The Pontiff spent his final hours with faithful, emerging to bless thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday and touring the piazza in the Popemobile to wild cheers and applause after being discharged from hospital only last month.

Francis had briefly met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance for a ‘quick and private’ meeting at the Casa Santa Marta residence in Vatican City earlier on Sunday.

He was hoped to be making a steady recovery from double pneumonia before Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced that he had died at 7.35am local time (5.35am GMT) today.

‘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,’ he said in a statement.

Francis had only left hospital under ‘protected discharge’ on March 23 after suffering an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs earlier this year.

But he resolutely toured through the crowd of 35,000 believers ‘for 50 minutes at 21 degrees’ on Sunday after delivering the Urbi et Orbi benediction with help from an aide. 

The Pontiff concluded the traditional address by wishing Catholics a ‘Happy Easter’ and calling for an end to conflicts around the world.

The Conclave – where cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose a successor – will not happen for at least 15 days. 

Francis’s body will lie in state in St Peter’s Basilica during an official mourning period, and then – in contrast to most of his predecessors – he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome’s Esquilino neighbourhood.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said the news of Francis’ death ‘deeply saddens us, as we are saying goodbye to a great man and a great shepherd’. 

‘I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his counsel and his teachings, which never failed me, not even in times of trial and suffering.’

‘The Pope and I had a more active relationship than was apparent,’ she told Italian state broadcaster RAI, in a broken voice.

‘It went well beyond our respective institutional roles,’ she told Italian state broadcaster RAI.

‘We’ve met many times, even just to exchange opinions. He was able to give comfort in very difficult moments, I have many memories of the Pope.’

King Charles also shared a statement in tribute, saying Francis would be ‘remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others’.

‘Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many,’ the statement continued, adding: ‘The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.’

The White House published a pithy statement on X, saying: ‘Rest in Peace, Pope Francis.’

Just a day before, JD Vance had met with the Pontiff to exchange Easter greetings. The Pope offered the Vice President three large chocolate Easter eggs for his three young children, who did not attend.

The Pontiff had not given Vance an audience on Friday, officially out of caution over his health situation, Corriere reports. 

French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country is largely Catholic, also shared his condolences in a post on X.

‘From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. For it to unite humans among themselves, and with nature. May this hope forever outlast him.’

The bells at Paris’s Notre-Dame cathedral rang out 88 times on Monday in honour of Pope Francis who died aged 88, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

The ’88 rings for 88 years of life’ were to be followed by a full ringing of the cathedral’s bells before a noon mass in Francis’s honour, followed by another in early evening, according to the Notre-Dame press office.

Israel’s mostly ceremonial president offered condolences to Christians after the death of Pope Francis, calling him a man of ‘deep faith and boundless compassion.’

In a post on X, Isaac Herzog said the pope had fostered strong ties with Jews and advanced interfaith dialogue.

‘I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered,’ he wrote, referring to the pope’s repeated calls for an end to the war and the release of captives held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Francis had repeatedly criticized Israel’s wartime conduct and said allegations of genocide, which Israel has adamantly denied, should be investigated.

Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas said Francis had been a ‘faithful friend’ of the Palestinians. 

Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced that Francis died early this morning.

‘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,’ Farrell said in the announcement.

‘He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for 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 God, One and Tribune.’