Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88, in his residence in Vatican City, the Vatican news service reported.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church,” reads the statement in part.
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized.”
Pope Francis was elected to lead the Catholic Church in 2013, following Pope Benedict XVI’s abdication. Born in 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis was the first pope from South America.
His predecessor, the late Benedict XVI, became the first pope to resign in more than 600 years in 2013 instead of serving for life, and died in 2022.
The process for choosing a new pope generally takes place between 15 and 20 days. At the death of a pope, a conclave is announced. This is a closed meeting — literally “with a key” — which must begin between 15 and 20 days after the pope’s death. It includes all the cardinals who are currently under the age of 80, usually about 120 of them.
