Pope Francis, first Pontiff from the Americas, dies at 88

VATICAN CITY (VDN) — Pope Francis, the first non-European pontiff in more than a millennium, died early Monday at the age of 88.

The Vatican announced the pope’s death from Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City. According to Vatican News, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, delivered the following statement at 9:45 a.m. local time:

“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

Francis was elected pope on March 13, 2013, and was the first pontiff from the Society of Jesus, known as the Jesuit order, the first from the Americas, and the first born outside Europe since Pope Gregory III of Syria in the eighth century.

Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on Dec. 17, 1936, in the Flores neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, the eldest of five children. He chose the papal name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.

His papacy was marked by a focus on humility, care for the poor, environmental stewardship and interfaith dialogue.

In keeping with his wishes, funeral services will follow a simplified rite. “The renewed rite,” said Archbishop Diego Ravelli, “seeks to emphasize even more that the funeral of the Roman pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.”