Pope Francis passes away at 88

The latest news on Vatican City. Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff in history, has passed away at 88, marking the end of a papacy defined by deep reformist intentions and a steadfast commitment to the marginalised, the Vatican announced on Monday.

Rising from the streets of Buenos Aires to the pinnacle of the Catholic Church in 2013, Pope Francis became a symbol of humility and spiritual renewal. His later years were increasingly marred by health setbacks that forced him into extended periods of recovery.

Still, he kept a gentle presence in the public eye, recently appearing from a hospital balcony with a hopeful smile. Loved by many as the People's Pope, he sought to make the Church more inclusive, reaching out to the marginalised and urging compassion over judgment.