Vatican City (Agencies): Pope Francis, the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years and the first from Latin America, passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday. The Vatican made the announcement, marking the end of a transformative 12-year papacy.
His death came as a shock to many, occurring less than a day after the pope made a high-profile public appearance and held a brief meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The Vatican revealed that the pontiff died peacefully at his residence, Casa Santa Marta, following a prolonged struggle with respiratory illness.
Under Pope Francis’s leadership, the Catholic Church saw significant reforms aimed at addressing modern challenges. His papacy was defined by a focus on social justice, care for the marginalized, and efforts to modernize church practices.
The Church now enters a period of mourning. Following this, cardinals under the age of 80 will convene to elect the next leader of the Catholic Church, a process expected to take two to three weeks. The new pope will face the task of continuing Francis’s legacy while addressing the evolving needs of the global Catholic community.