Pope Francis, the first pontiff from Latin America and one of the most reform-minded leaders in modern Church history, has died at the age of 88 following a cerebral stroke, the Vatican announced on Monday.

The stroke led to heart failure, according to Dr Andrea Arcangeli, head of the Vatican’s health department. The Pope had been battling chronic health problems for years, including lung disease and mobility issues, and was recently hospitalised for 38 days due to respiratory complications.

His death marks the end of a decade-long papacy that brought both admiration and division. Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, was elected in 2013 after the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. From the outset, he broke tradition — choosing a simpler residence, championing the poor, and calling for a more inclusive Church.

Though his health had been in steady decline, the Vatican said his condition deteriorated rapidly over the weekend. His passing triggers the centuries-old Conclave, where cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope. A date for the funeral and election process is expected to be announced in the coming days.

In his final act of devotion, Francis visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major — his chosen resting place — on April 12. It was his second visit since being released from hospital. The basilica houses the icon of the Virgin Mary known as Salus Populi Romani, to which he was deeply devoted.

Francis requested to be buried there, rather than beneath St. Peter’s Basilica like most of his predecessors, symbolising his preference for humility over hierarchy. Last year, he simplified the funeral rites for popes, placing more emphasis on their role as Bishop of Rome rather than head of state.

As leaders across the globe pay tribute, his death leaves behind a Church shaped by his push for openness and dialogue — and a question over how far that change will now go.

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