Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, has died. The Vatican announced his passing in a statement released on Easter Monday.
According to the statement, the pope died at 7:35 a.m. local time at his residence in Casa Santa Marta within the Vatican.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” the statement read. “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.”
The Vatican noted his commitment to the Gospel and his advocacy for the poor and marginalized, commending his soul to “the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere, and the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years.
He joined the Society of Jesus in 1958 after recovering from a serious illness and was ordained a priest in 1969. He served as Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina from 1973 to 1979.
In 1998, he became Archbishop of Buenos Aires and was appointed a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001. He played a key role during Argentina’s 2001 economic crisis and was seen as a political rival by former presidents Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
Following Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation in 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as pope on March 13 of that year. He chose the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Pope Francis was widely recognized for his humility, emphasis on mercy, and dedication to interfaith dialogue and social justice throughout his papacy.
