Pope Francis, First South American Pontiff And 'People's Pope,' Dies At 88 (UPDATED)

Editor’s Note: Additional details have been added to this story.

The Vatican has announced the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88.

Born in 1936, Pope Francis was the first South American Pope and became known as the “People’s Pope” for advocating for the poor and those fleeing war and hunger. The pontiff, serving as the Bishop of Rome and leader of the Catholic Church, assumed the papacy in 2013 following the resignation of his predecessor, Benedict XVI.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced his death in a statement issued by the Vatican. He said: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.”

The process for selecting a new pope — the “conclave” — typically occurs between 15 and 20 days following the death of a pontiff.

On Feb. 14, the Pope was hospitalized for bronchitis. He was later diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and received blood transfusions due to low platelet levels linked to anemia. By February 22, his condition became critical due to a prolonged respiratory crisis, and the next day, he showed signs of mild kidney failure.

He was discharged after a 38-day hospital stay on March 23 and made his first public appearance in five weeks, smiling and giving a thumbs up from a balcony at Gemelli.

He went back to the Vatican, unexpectedly stopping at his favourite basilica on the way, before starting two months of prescribed rest and recovery.

On Sunday, he greeted the crowds at the Easter Sunday Service, just one day after meeting U.S. Vice President JD Vance and family.

Pope Francis’ Personal Life

Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on Dec. 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was the eldest of five children of Mario José Bergoglio, a railway accountant, and Regina María Sívori; both were Italian immigrants. In his youth, Francis underwent surgery to remove part of his lungs following a severe infection. 

The Pope graduated from a technical school as a chemical technician. After working briefly at a food processing plant, he felt called to a life in the church. He entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1958 and went on to earn a licentiate in philosophy in Buenos Aires province. He then went on to teach high school literature and psychology while pursuing a degree in theology.

Early Career In The Church

Pope Francis was ordained a priest in 1969 and completed his final vows in the Jesuit order in 1973. He served as superior of the Jesuit province of Argentina from 1973 to 1979.

The Pope was promoted to Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1997 and became archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. He was elevated to a cardinal in 2001 and named the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013. 

Pope Francis was known for being approachable, relatable and down-to-earth. He reflected these attitudes by downgrading his papal gear, a move that represented his sensitivity toward poverty. 

Pope Francis was named “Person of the Year” by Time and LGBT-interest magazine The Advocate in 2013 and by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in 2015. He was also awarded the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen in 2016 for his services in European unification. 

He was the author of a number of books, including “The Name of God is Mercy,” “Laudato Si’: On the Care of Our Common Home” and “Evangelii Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel.”

Pope Francis is survived by his sister María Elena Bergoglio. 

This article includes reporting contributions from Wayne Duggan.

Image via Shutterstock

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