Pope Francis waves at the end of his weekly general audience at Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican, October 26, 2022. /VCG
Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, died Monday at the age of 88, said the Vatican in a statement.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Francis was head of the Roman Catholic Church since 2013.
His death came weeks after returning home from a 38-day stay in intensive care, and followed an intense Holy Week schedule that included public appearances.
After a period of mourning, the Vatican will turn toward preparations for a gathering of the College of Cardinals to select Francis' successor.