Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, has passed away at the age of 88. According to a statement released by the Vatican, he died peacefully at 7:35 a.m. on Monday—just a day after making a warmly welcomed appearance at Saint Peter’s Square for Easter Sunday celebrations.“With deep sorrow, I announce the passing of our Holy Father, Francis,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in a statement published via the Vatican’s Telegram channel. “This morning at 7:35 a.m. (0535 GMT), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was devoted to the service of the Lord and His Church.”Pope Francis had been recovering from a severe illness earlier this year, during which he nearly lost his life twice due to pneumonia. He spent 38 days in the hospital before being discharged on March 23. His Easter Sunday appearance—during which he delivered the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing and called for freedom of thought and tolerance—was seen as a hopeful sign of recovery.Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, Francis was elected Pope in 2013, already in his seventies. His papacy marked several historic milestones: he was the first Pope from the Americas, the first non-European to lead the Church since the 8th century, and the first Jesuit to ascend to the papacy.Throughout his tenure, he remained committed to reforming the Church while managing to retain the respect of both progressives and traditionalists. His predecessor, Benedict XVI, made history by becoming the first pontiff to retire voluntarily in nearly 600 years, leading to a rare decade where two popes resided within the Vatican.Pope Francis leaves behind a profound legacy of humility, inclusion, and a deep commitment to social justice.