Pope Francis, head of Catholic Church, passes away at 88

Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on Monday at the age of 88 after battling a prolonged illness, the Vatican announced.

In a statement, the Vatican said he had recently been discharged from the hospital after being treated for bilateral pneumonia.

Despite his health issues, Pope Francis made a public appearance on Easter Sunday, greeting the faithful.

“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell on Vatican TV.

"At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father."

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Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he became the first Latin American pope after being elected on March 13, 2013.

His papacy was defined by efforts to modernise the Church, promote inclusivity, and address long-standing scandals, particularly around child sexual abuse.

According to Reuters, Pope Francis broke with many traditional privileges associated with the papacy.

He refused to live in the lavish Apostolic Palace, choosing instead to reside in a modest guesthouse for his “psychological health.”

Francis assumed leadership at a time when the Church was mired in controversy.

He took a firm stance against injustice and worked to rebuild the Church’s moral authority.

However, his reformist agenda drew criticism from both ends of the spectrum. Conservatives accused him of undermining Church traditions, while progressives felt he didn’t go far enough.

Pope Francis appointed nearly 80% of the current members of the College of Cardinals, which ensures that his successor is likely to share his theological vision and continue his policies.

It should be remembered that Pope Francis took office in 2013 after the resignation of Pope Benedict. Pope Francis was previously the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.

Pope Francis had been ill for the past several months and had recently contracted double pneumonia, due to which he was treated in the hospital for several days and could not even address the public on Easter this year due to illness.