Pope Francis passed away in the early hours of Easter Monday. He was 88.

The pope had met with Vice President JD Vance the day before.

“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the church, said in an announcement Monday. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”

The pope had been admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, Feb. 14, after suffering bronchitis for several days. The doctors diagnosed him with bilateral pneumonia on Feb. 18. Francis had returned to his Vatican residence after 38 days in the hospital before passing Monday, Vatican News reported.

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social Monday morning, “Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!”

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Francis became the first Jesuit pontiff and the first pontiff from Latin America, having served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. The College of Cardinals elected him on March 13, 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.

Francis adopted a less formal style than his predecessors, living outside the official papal residence and presenting himself as a reformer.

Vance had met with the pope Sunday, and commented on his passing Monday........

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