Catholic pontiff, Pope Francis has died. The Vatican has announced the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88. In a statement posted on X, the Vatican confirmed that the pontiff passed away at his residence. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he was elected pope on March 13, 2013, making history as the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. His death follows a recent battle with a severe case of double pneumonia. “Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. “At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican’s TV channel. The Pope faced strong criticism from conservatives, who accused him of discarding long-held traditions. At the same time, he came under fire from progressives, who believed he fell short in efforts to reform the 2,000-year-old Church.