Rome: Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, has passed away at the age of 88, as announced by the Vatican.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, confirmed the pope’s death in a statement, noting that at 7:35 in the morning (0535 GMT), “the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.” Pope Francis had recently been battling pneumonia in both lungs and had spent over a month in Gemelli Hospital in Rome. This marked his fourth prolonged hospital stay within the past four years.

Initially hospitalized in 2021 for intestinal surgery, Pope Francis was admitted again in 2023 for severe pneumonia, followed by another open abdominal procedure later that year. Despite his health challenges, he continued to make public appearances from a wheelchair due to a severe knee condition, although he was forced to cancel numerous regular prayers, audiences, and services in recent months.

In what would be his fin
al public appearance, Pope Francis briefly addressed thousands from the balcony in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday to deliver an Easter blessing. Despite his frail health, he completed a 12-day trip to Asia and the Pacific in early September and visited Luxembourg and Belgium later the same month.