Pope Francis dead at 88 years old

The Vatican has confirmed the death of Pope Francis, the first non-European pontiff in almost 1,300 years. He was 88.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican's camerlengo, announced the pope's death Monday morning.

“Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” a statement from the camerlengo said.

“At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.  His whole life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.”

Farrell continued, “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.”

“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the Triune God,” the statement concluded.

Francis offered the traditional Easter blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, his most public appearance since leaving the hospital.

Just before that, he had a brief discussion with US Vice President JD Vance.

Francis, one of the church's oldest popes, died just weeks after being discharged from a Rome hospital after suffering from a life-threatening attack of pneumonia in both lungs.

His medical staff said his health had stabilized, allowing him to continue his recovery at his Casa Santa Marta home in the Vatican. Two weeks after leaving the hospital, he surprised the faithful by making an appearance in St. Peter's Square.

The pope's relentless support for migrants led him to strongly condemn US President Donald Trump's immigration deportation policies in the months leading up to his death. Francis, whose papacy served as a counterweight to the growth of nationalist populism, frequently came under pressure from powerful conservative Catholic factions in the United States.

His death will spark a discussion over the future course of the Catholic Church, with cardinals from all over the world scheduled to convene in Rome in the coming days to mourn the pontiff before electing his successor. 

Pope Francis died on Monday morning at Casa Santa Marta, a guesthouse near St. Peter's Basilica where he had lived since his election in 2013, according to a Vatican official.

The pope passed away on the second level of the home, according to the Vatican news office.

Francis' remains will be placed in a coffin on Monday at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET), according to a Vatican statement released earlier today.

Matteo Bruni, head of the Vatican press office, said he is "hopeful" that the Vatican would be able to reveal the cause of death on Monday evening, after the formal death certificate.

President Donald Trump issued a quick remark on social media on the death of Pope Francis.

“Rest in Peace Pope Francis!  May God Bless him and all who loved him!”  Trump wrote in a brief message on Truth Social.

The president also paid tribute to Pope Francis at the White House Easter Egg Roll today, describing the late pope as a "good man."

“I just signed an executive order putting the flags of our country… at half-mast in honor of Pope Francis,” Trump said as he addressed a crowd on the South Lawn from the Blue Room Balcony.

Trump continued, “He was a good man. He worked hard. He loved the world. And it's an honor to do so.

The order applies to “all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment,” Trump wrote in the proclamation.

He further included "United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations."

President Trump is likely to attend the late Pope Francis' burial in Vatican City later this week.

Argentina's President, Javier Milei, has decreed seven days of mourning following Pope Francis' death.

Pope Francis was a "messenger of hope, humility, and humanity," UN Secretary-General António Guterres said during a press conference in New York on Monday, paying respect to the late pontiff.

Guterres expressed his condolences to Catholics, describing Francis as a "transcendent voice for peace, human dignity, and social justice."

Following Pope Francis' death, a new pope must be elected through a historical procedure known as conclave – a secret assembly of cardinals to perform a papal election.

The conclave normally takes place 15 to 20 days after the papal office becomes vacant. Technically, any Roman Catholic male can be elected leader, but the last pope who was not chosen by the College of Cardinals was Urban VI in 1379.