Pope Francis dies at age 88
Francis is expected to be buried at the ancient Basilica of St. Mary Major, which lies outside the Vatican walls. A conclave will soon begin to elect the new Catholic leader.
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Pope Francis, a reformer from Argentina who rattled the Catholic Church’s traditionalists and inspired progressives by reaching out to gay people and championing the rights of immigrants and the poor, has died, the Vatican announced Monday.
He was 88.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the Pope's death in a statement released by the Vatican during the early hours of Monday.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” the Cardinal said.
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and the marginalized,” he added.
Francis’ body will be put on display in an open coffin in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, one of Christianity’s holiest sites, where pontiffs have been buried for more than 100 years. But in accordance with Francis’ wishes, he is expected to be buried at the ancient Basilica of St. Mary Major, which lies outside the Vatican walls.
His successor will be chosen during a conclave, a gathering of cardinals who are charged with electing a new pope in strict seclusion at the Vatican.
Toward the end of his life, Francis battled a host of health issues that left him weakened and often forced to rely on a wheelchair or canes. Most recently, he struggled with diverticulitis and bronchitis, and at times needed his aides to read his speeches because he was out of breath. He spent much of the last two months in hospital battling pneumonia.
