The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has died amid pneumonia recovery.
According to reports, Pope Francis died in the early hours of Monday at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, hours after making a surprising appearance to greet a crowd of more than 35,000 on Sunday.
He was 88.
“Brothers and sisters, happy Easter!” the 88-year-old pope declared from the loggia balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
“I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace!,” he said regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza during the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing.
He added, “On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves. For all of us are children of God.”
His death came weeks after he was hospitalised in intensive care at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for more than a month over respiratory problems.
