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The Pope, who was the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died at 07:35 local time on Easter Monday.
World leaders pay tribute to his “contagious smile” and “boundless compassion,” with French President Emmanuel Macron calling him a “man of humility”
His death comes a day after he appeared in St Peter’s Square to wish “Happy Easter” to thousands of worshippers.
The Vatican, he was recently discharged from hospital last month after five weeks of treatment for an infection.
Pope Francis’s death sets in motion the centuries-old process of electing a new Pope.
Things to know about the Pope Francis.
After 38 days in hospital, the late Pope returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery.
In 1957, in his early 20s, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in his native Argentina to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection.
As he aged, Pope Francis frequently suffered bouts of respiratory illnesses, even cancelling a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation.
Read more: Pope Francis diagnosed with Pneumonia in both lungs, Vatican confirms
In April 2024, the late Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, which will guide the funeral Mass which has yet to be announced.
The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis introduces several new elements, including how the Pope’s mortal remains are to be handled after death.
The ascertainment of death takes place in the chapel, rather than in the room where he died, and his body is immediately placed inside the coffin.
According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, the late Pope Francis had requested that the funeral rites be simplified and focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ.
“The renewed rite,” said Archbishop Ravelli, “seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.”
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