Pope Francis dies aged 88: Tributes flood in from around the world

Pope Francis, the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday, just over 12 years after assuming the papacy. He was 88.

"Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican‍‍`s Casa Santa Marta," the Vatican said in a statement on X on Monday.

A news release on the Vatican‍‍`s website said he died at 7:35 a.m. local time.

Francis navigated several health-related issues during his life, including a respiratory infection that resulted in removing part of his right lung when he was 21.

In February, Francis was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection. Subsequent diagnoses showed that he had developed pneumonia in both lungs and that he had slight kidney failure.

In March, his doctors said he was no longer at imminent risk of death. He was discharged from the hospital on March 23.

The day before his death, he was brought out onto the balcony of St. Peter‍‍`s Basilica in a wheelchair, where he gave his Easter blessing to thousands of worshippers gathered below.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Francis began his papacy on March 13, 2013. He was the first Jesuit pope to be elected by the papal conclave in the Vatican, replacing Pope Benedict XVI.

Francis was also the first pope from the Americas; he was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he served in many top religious positions, including as the archbishop.

In the summer of 2022, Francis hinted at retirement, citing his health.

"I think at my age and with these limitations, I have to save to be able to serve the church, or on the contrary, think about the possibility of stepping aside," he told reporters in July 2022.