Navi Mumbai: Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church and a transformative figure in its recent history, has died at the age of 88. The announcement was made by the Vatican on Monday morning via a video statement.

On April 21 an official message by the Vatican read, “This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father."

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, made history in 2013 when he became the first pontiff from Latin America and the first Jesuit to be elected Pope. Over the course of his 12-year papacy, he faced a series of health challenges, especially in his later years, and was recently hospitalized for pneumonia. He was discharged from the hospital on March 23 after five weeks of treatment but had notably scaled back his involvement in Holy Week ceremonies due to his frail condition.

Despite his health setbacks, Pope Francis remained committed to his duties until the very end. Just a day before his passing, he addressed the faithful during the Easter Sunday celebrations, speaking from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to a crowd of followers. While he greeted the public, the reading of his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" Easter message was handled by an aide. In the address, Francis made a strong appeal for religious and personal freedoms, denouncing rising anti-Semitism and describing the situation in Gaza as “dramatic and deplorable.”

Known for his humble approach to leadership, Pope Francis chose to live outside the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, breaking tradition by residing in the simpler Casa Santa Marta guesthouse. Throughout his tenure, he was admired for his progressive tone on social issues, emphasis on compassion and inclusion, and advocacy for climate action, migration reform, and interfaith dialogue.

Though he never took holidays and often kept a relentless schedule, many close to him had expressed concern over his physical condition in recent years. Doctors had urged him to reduce his workload, but he consistently refused to scale back.

Pope Francis leaves behind a complex legacy, marked by his efforts to bring the Church closer to the people and make it more responsive to the challenges of the modern world. His passing marks the end of an era for the Catholic Church, and preparations for the next conclave are expected to begin soon.