VATICAN CITY (Realist English). Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed on Monday. He passed away in the Domus Sanctae Marthae residence, where he had lived since his election in 2013.
According to a brief statement from the Holy See Press Office, the pontiff died peacefully following several months of declining health. An official cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Vatican flags were lowered to half-mast as the Church enters a period of mourning and prepares for a conclave to elect his successor.
A former archbishop of Buenos Aires and the first Jesuit to become pope, Francis was also the first pontiff from Latin America. His election marked a historic shift in the Church’s global leadership and tone. Over the past 11 years, he led efforts to reform the Vatican bureaucracy, brought attention to climate change and social inequality, and took a more pastoral approach to sensitive issues such as same-sex relationships and interfaith dialogue.
However, his papacy was not without controversy. Critics — including traditionalist factions within the Church — accused Francis of sowing division and weakening doctrinal clarity. His handling of sexual abuse scandals also drew significant scrutiny, despite new accountability measures introduced under his leadership.
Tributes poured in from religious leaders and heads of state around the world. U.S. President Donald Trump said in a brief statement that Francis had been “a spiritual leader in challenging times” and offered condolences to the Catholic community.
The Vatican has yet to announce funeral arrangements. According to Church tradition, a nine-day mourning period known as the novemdiales will follow the pope’s death, during which cardinals will gather to plan the conclave and lay him to rest in the crypts beneath St. Peter’s Basilica.
Pope Francis was a transformative figure whose leadership style broke with centuries of convention. Though deeply admired by many for his humility and openness, his tenure also exposed deep rifts within the Catholic Church. The coming conclave will test the balance between tradition and change that defined his papacy.
