Pope Francis passes away at 88; first Latin American leader of Roman Catholic Church

ROME: Pope Francis (88), the supreme head of the global Catholic Church, has passed away. Pope Francis was the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Francis passed away at his residence in the Vatican at 7:35 a.m. local time. The Vatican announced the news through a video statement.

He was appointed as the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI due to health issues. Known for his deep compassion and commitment to the poor, Pope Francis dedicated his life to serving humanity. Upon ascending to the papacy at the age of 76, he chose the name Francis, inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi.

Unlike many of his predecessors, Pope Francis adopted a more empathetic approach toward issues such as transgender rights and same-sex marriage. He publicly urged parents of LGBTQ+ children not to feel troubled, but instead to support and accept them, emphasising that everyone deserves a place within their family.

Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in the Flores neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was the eldest of five children born to Mario José Bergoglio, an accountant for the railway, and Regina María Sívori, a homemaker. His parents were of Italian descent, with Mario’s family having fled Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime in 1929 and settled in Argentina.

Although he earned a diploma as a chemical technician, Francis eventually chose the path of the priesthood. In 1958, he joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). He completed his humanities studies in Chile and returned to Argentina in 1963, where he earned a degree in philosophy.