Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, the Vatican has announced

Pope Francis has sadly died at the age of 88. Jorge Mario Bergoglio was ushered in as the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church back in 2013, following Pope Benedict XVI's resignation.

As he assumed the mantle of Pope Francis, he marked the first time a Latin American and Jesuit became the supreme leader of the Church.The Vatican had been monitoring Pope Francis in clinical care since February 14, subsequent to a week suffering from an exacerbated case of bronchitis.

It was on February 17 when the Vatican reported that he was contending with a "complex clinical picture" that necessitated extended hospitalisation.

Consequently, this led to the cancellation of the general audience which usually takes place every Wednesday, reports the Express. Before being hospitalised, Pope Francis had been experiencing bronchitis symptoms for some days and had already begun entrusting officials to read his prepared remarks at ceremonies.

Previously having a section of one lung excised at the tender age of 21, the Argentine pope experienced two distinct bouts of bronchitis in the year 2023.

He previously spent three evenings in the same establishment during March 2023 and later in December, he had to withdraw from his scheduled appearance at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai due to the impact of influenza and pulmonary inflammation.

In recent years, Pope Francis has been courting several health issues. In 2021, he needed colon surgery and last year, he went through further diagnostic procedures at Gemelli hospital after catching a mild flu.

According to Catholic tradition, Pope Francis must be buried between four and six days after his death, with an official mourning period of nine days. The time between the death of a pope and the election of his successor is known as Sede Vacante.

Cardinals aged under 80 are required to arrive at the Vatican between 15 and 20 days after the pope's death to begin the papal conclave, a secretive process to elect a new pope.

The cardinals vote in secret ballots until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority. Once a pope is elected, the dean of the cardinals asks him if he accepts his election, and he is then asked to choose a name.

The papal conclave concludes when the newly elected pope disbands it, traditionally after addressing the body of cardinals.