Catholic pontiff, Pope Francis has died.
Francis died at the age of 88, the Vatican has announced.
His death came just a day after he delighted the crowds of worshippers at the Vatican on Easter Sunday with an appearance on the balcony at Saint Peter’s Basilica.
In a post on the social media platform X, the Vatican said the pontiff died in his residence.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Francis was elected pope on March 13, 2013, becoming the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
He had recently survived a serious bout of double pneumonia.
“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.
“At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican’s TV channel.
Pope faced fierce criticism from conservatives, who accused him of trashing cherished traditions.
He also drew the ire of progressives, who felt he should have done much more to reshape the 2,000-year-old Church.
In the meantime, the day-to-day running of the tiny Vatican City state will be handled by the camerlengo, a senior cardinal, currently Dublin-born Kevin Farrell.
