Pope Francis died Monday morning, the Vatican announced. He was 88.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced the news in a video message on the Vatican’s TV channel, saying: “Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.
“At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church.”
The pontiff, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, was hospitalized for 38 days beginning in February over a respiratory health crisis which became a bout of double pneumonia.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated…
