Pope Francis, the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years, has died, the Vatican has announced. He was 88.
The death of Francis, who became the first Latin-American pontiff in 2013 and was one of the oldest popes in the church’s history, came weeks after he was discharged from a Rome hospital having battled a life-threatening case of pneumonia in both lungs.
His medical team said his condition had stabilized, allowing for him to continue his convalescence at his Casa Santa Marta residence back at the Vatican. Two weeks after leaving hospital, he delighted the faithful by making a surprise appearance at St. Peter’s Square.
Francis brought a humbler, more forward-looking approach to the Vatican and worked to soften what the Catholic Church said on social issues like homosexuality, the death penalty and the role of women.
But he struggled to quell the scandal of child sex abuse that has tarnished trust in the church for decades.
His death will prompt a period of mourning, after which cardinals will pick the next leader of the Catholic Church.