Media breadPope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.
The announcement of the Vatican of his death occurred one day after he appeared in a wheelchair in St Peter’s square to wish thousands of faithful to gather a « happy Easter ».
Pope Francis was downloaded from the hospital last month after five weeks of treatment for an infection that caused a double pneumonia.
Catholics from all over the world have been in mourning their death and the crowd of well -off people have begun reaching the Vatican.
Among those who paid tribute were the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, who praised him as a « great man » and said that he had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, advice and teaching.
King Charles, who met with the Pope in private earlier this month During the state visit to Italy, He said in a statement that he was « deeply sad » to feel the Pope’s death.
« His holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and its tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith and for those of good will who work for the benefit of others. »
The news of the Pope’s death was announced by the Vatican in a statement.
« This morning at 07:35 the local time (05:35 GMT) the bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the father of the father, » said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in the statement, published by the Vatican.
« He taught us to live the values of the gospel with universal faithfulness, courage and love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized, » he continued.
« With an immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of Mr. Jesus, we congratulate the soul of Pope Francis on the infinite merciful love of the only and triumph God. »
The Church of the Church of England, the Archbishop of York, described him as a « Holy Man of God » who was « also very human ».
« All his life and Francis’s ministry focused on Jesus, who comes between us for not being served, but to serve, » Stephen said Cottrell in a statement.
« Pope Francis rest in peace! May God bless him and all who loved him! » United States President Donald Trump wrote on social media.
Trump Vice President JD Vance, who met the Pope on Easter Sunday, said that his « heart goes out » to the Christians.
« I was happy to see him yesterday, although he was obviously very sick, » he said.
The government of the Catholic Church will now be managed by the College of Cardinals, its senior officials, until a new pope is elected in an election known as conclave.
Later Monday, Pope Francis’s body will move to the chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae, the guest house inside the Vatican where he had lived from becoming a pope, unlike his predecessors who lived in the papal apartment of the apostolic palace.
At 20:00 (18:00 GMT), the cardinal whose task is to manage the transition in the coming days, will preside over the confirmation of Francis’s death and the placement of his body in a coffin. This is the role of Camerlengo – Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell. The dean of the College of Cardinals, the Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re and the family of Francis, will be joined.
EpaPope Francis was last seen on Sunday in his wheelchair, stirring from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to animated people.
« Dear brothers and sisters, happy Easter, » he said.
In his blessing, given by a member of the clergy, he said: « There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the opinions of others. »
« What a great death set, to kill, we see in the many conflicts that felt in different parts of the world. »
The pope had fought with his health in recent months, having spent five weeks in the hospital with Pneumonia on both lungs.
During his time at the hospital, he presented « two very critical episodes » where his « life was in danger », according to one of his doctors.
He has suffered several health problems throughout his life, including one of his lungs eliminated at the age of 21, making him more prone to infections.
Francis’s papacy announced many first
Pope Francis, born in Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, was the first non -European pope for centuries, after Gregory III, who died in 741.
He was also the first Jesuit to be elected on the throne of Saint Peter. Rome historically looked at the Jesuits with suspicion.
Francis’s predecessor, Benedict XVI, was the first pope to voluntarily retired in almost 600 years and for almost a decade the Vatican Gardens welcomed two popes.
Pope Francis was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936. His parents had fled his native Italy to escape fascism. In his early life, he worked as a rebound for a disco and flash sweeping, before graduating as a chemist.
Before becoming the head of the Catholic Church in 2013, he appeared as a commitment candidate by appealing to the conservatives while attracting reformers with their liberal position on social justice.
His first actions as a pope included washing the feet of the elderly and prisoners and defending the rights of refugees and migrants.
But in many of the Church’s teachings, Pope Francis was a traditionalist. There were warm words in favor of some kind of same-sex unions for gay couples, but Francis did not favor a marriage. This, he said, would be « an attempt to destroy God’s plan. »
Shortly after becoming a pope, he participated in an anti -Food March in Rome, which requested rights of unborn « since the moment of conception ».
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