Pope Francis has died aged 88 as Vatican issue statement

Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88, the Vatican has confirmed.

The Holy Father at the head of the Roman Catholic Church, whose real name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected to be Pope in March 2013.

Now, the Vatican has confirmed the 88-year-old has died in a statement on Monday (April 21).

Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell said: “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 home 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 faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.

“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 God, One and Tribune.″

The Pope has died after a short health battle (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)

Since February this year, Pope Francis has undergone a health struggle as he was rushed to Rome's Gemelli Hospital, indicating he had suffered a respiratory infection, chronic bronchitis, which developed into pneumonia in both lungs and mild kidney failure.

Last month, he had experienced an 'isolated attack of bronchospasm which caused an episode of vomiting with inhalation and a sudden worsening of his respiratory condition'.

The Vatican posted updates about the Pope's ongoing health since his hospitalization, revealing in February that while he 'slept' well and was in 'good humour', his condition remained 'critical.'

They warned at the time that while he 'cooperated with the therapeutic measures,' his prognosis remained 'uncertain'.

On Sunday (February 23), the Pope asked Catholics to pray for him after he was unable to deliver the traditional Angelus prayer for the second week in a row, the BBC reported.

Throughout his leadership, Pope Francis established many 'firsts'. He was the first Pope to come from from the Society of Jesus, where priests and brothers dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ, as well as the first to be Latin American, being born in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Pope Francis made many firsts during his tenure and was considered one of the most progressive heads of the church (ALBERTO PIZZOLIALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

He was also the first Pope to have been born or raised outside Europe since the Syrian Pope Gregory III, some 1,200 years ago.

The Argentinian cardinal, who chose his papal name in honour of Sant Francis of Assisi, was also praised for his progressive attitude and humility.

For instance, he was often heard contemplating the war in Ukraine and making comments about the refugee crisis, the climate emergency, global injustice, and even LGBTQ+ rights.

Throughout 2023, Pope Francis slammed laws criminalizing homosexuality as a sin. He approved blessings for same-sex civil unions, famously telling journalists: "Who am I to judge?" when prompted with the question.

He also pushed for other reforms within the church in his life, including giving more roles to women in high-ranking Vatican positions.

He broke the formalities of his predecessors by choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, a church guest house, rather than the grand Apostolic Palace.