Pope Francis has died at the age 88 following a weeks-long battle with pneumonia.
The head of the Catholic Church passed away on Easter Monday, a statement by the Vatican confirmed.
The Pontiff of 12 years had spent his final weeks battling an infection, which caused pneumonia in both lungs.
Francis, an Argentinian who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was the first ever pope from Latin America and the first from outside Europe in more than 1,300 years.
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said: ‘I mourn the passing of Pope Francis. His commitment to peace, social justice, and the most vulnerable leaves a profound legacy. Rest in peace.’
Francis, who replaced Pope Benedict XVI, died a day after greeting the masses on St Peter’s Square in the Vatican on Easter Sunday.
He also met US Vice President JD Vance on his way to St Peter’s Basilica. Vance was spending the religious holiday with his family in Rome.
The process to find Francis’s successor will not happen for at least another 15 days.
The Conclave sees cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel to decide who will be the next leader of the Catholic Church.
The Conclave – where cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose a successor – will not happen for at least 15 days.
