Pope Francis dies at 88

The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, who had led the Holy See since 2013, died on Monday morning, the Vatican press service reported on Facebook.

“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, said.