Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic church, is dead.
In a statement, the Vatican said the pope “died on Easter Monday at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta”.
He was aged 88.
Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said: “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church, Farrell said in the announcement.”
His death follows a “complex” health battle with double pneumonia.
The pontiff had been hospitalised at the Gemelli hospital in Rome after suffering a bout of bronchitis.
Pope Francis’ tragic death has plunged 1.4billion Catholics across the globe into mourning.