The Vatican announces that the pontiff, 88, died on Monday morning
Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, the Vatican has announced, after his final address on Easter Sunday called for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The pontiff, who was the first head of the Catholic Church to hail from the Americas in centuries, became pope in 2013.
His death at his Vatican residence was confirmed on Monday morning.
The pope was hospitalised in February with double pneumonia.
He appeared on Easter Sunday from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica as an aide read out a benediction in which the pope condemned the "deplorable humanitarian situation" caused by Israel's onslaught on Gaza.
"I express my closeness to the sufferings… of all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people," the pope said.
"I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace." (more...)
Pope Francis dies after final address called for ending war on Gaza
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