Pope Francis Dies at 88 After Battle With Pneumonia

Pope Francis, the 88-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away early Monday morning at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican confirmed in a video statement.

“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father,” announced Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican’s administrator. “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church.”

Francis, the first Latin American Pope and one of the oldest in the Church’s history, had been recovering from a severe case of double pneumonia. Despite medical advice to rest, he made a brief public appearance on Easter Sunday, greeting and blessing a crowd of 35,000 gathered in St. Peter’s Square from his popemobile.

On Sunday morning, he also held a short private meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. However, he did not attend the traditional Good Friday procession for the third consecutive year.

Following news of his death, tributes poured in from world leaders. German chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz praised the late pontiff, saying, “Francis will be remembered for his tireless commitment to the weakest members of society, to justice and reconciliation.”