Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of Roman Catholics worldwide, has passed away at the age of 88. The Vatican confirmed the death of Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, through an official statement.
Pope Francis was the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church. He had recently been discharged from the hospital after a prolonged illness and was reportedly in recovery. Just a few days ago, he participated in Easter celebrations and met with the public.
Born in Argentina, Pope Francis became Archbishop of Buenos Aires before being elected as the Pope in 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
He had been battling health issues for several months and was hospitalized on February 14 due to severe respiratory complications. Diagnosed with pneumonia, he spent five weeks in the hospital before returning to the Vatican last month.
His death marks the end of a significant era in the Catholic Church, as he was known for his humble leadership, progressive stance on various global issues, and efforts to reform the Church.
