Pope Francis has died, the Vatican announced Monday morning. He was 88 years old.
The first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic faithful directed the Catholic Church for 12 years, after being elevated to the role in March 2013 after the historical resignation of its prosecutor Papa Benedict XVI.
Francis recently left the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where he was admitted on February 14 after having breathing difficulties. A severe episode of double pneumonia was diagnosed as the cause.
He died at his residence in the Santa Marta del Vatican house.
“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with deep sadness that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francisco,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican television channel.
Pope Francis had worked until the end and made a surprise appearance for the blessings of Easter Sunday in the Plaza de San Pedro del Vaticano, as Breitbart News reported.
The late Pope left his mark in several ways.
Francis was the first Jesuit Pope, the first Pope of the Americas, the first of the southern hemisphere and the first non -European pontiff from Pope Gregory III, more than 1000 years before.
His death triggers the beginning of the solemn process to choose a new Pope, starting with the papal funeral in the next few days and ends with a column of white smoke that emanates from the Sistine Chapel to announce that his successor has been chosen.
More to come …