The Vatican announced that Pope Francis had passed away at the age of 88.
“It is a deep sadness to have to announce the death of our dear brothers and sisters, our holy father, Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican television channel, Reuters reported.
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergolio was elected to lead the Catholic Church in March 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI stopped.
Francis’s Pope told many firsts, and although he never stopped introducing reforms to the Catholic Church, he became popular among traditionalists.
He was the first pope from the United States or the Southern Hemisphere. The BBC says on its website that there have been bishops outside of Europe since Syrian-born Gregory III died in 741.
He was also the first Jesuits to be elected to the throne of St. Peter.
Francis’ predecessor, Benedict XVI, was the first pope to voluntarily retire after almost 600 years, and for almost a decade the Vatican gardens hosted two popes.
As the Argentine Cardinal Bergolian, he was already in his 70s when he became Pope.