The Vatican announced on Monday that Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88 following a long illness.
During his 12-year tenure, the pope experienced numerous health issues. The pope, who was the first Latin American head of the Roman Catholic Church, assumed the papacy in 2013 following the resignation of his predecessor, Benedict XVI. In the final months of his papacy, he frequently visited hospitals, raising concerns about his well-being. Francis, originally named Jorge Mario Bergoglio and hailing from Argentina, was the first pope from the Americas.