The leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis is dead. He died on Monday aged 88.
According to a statement from.the Vatican, Pope Francis died at 7:35am , a day after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday,
“Dearest brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in the statement published by the Vatican on its Telegram channel.
“This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT) the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father.