Head of Catholic Church Worldwide Pope Francis Is Dead

The Head of the Catholic Church worldwide, Pope Francis, is dead. Aged 88, he was confirmed dead by the Vatican in the early hours of Monday, a day after he appeared at St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday.

According to the Vatican, Pope Francis died at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa According to the Vatican news service, Cardinal Farrell said: “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.” .

According CNN, Pope Francis’ death follows a decline in his health during the final years of his papacy.The 88-year-old pontiff, who as a young man had a small part of one lung removed, was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 after experiencing bronchitis symptoms. A subsequent CT scan led to a diagnosis of pneumonia in both lungs. His condition stablized and, five weeks later, the pontiff was allowed to return to the Vatican to continue his recovery.

However, after leaving hospital the pontiff was unable to speak for long periods due to his respiratory difficulties and underwent physiotherapy to help regain his voice. He also had difficulty raising his arms and wore a nasal cannula to receive oxygen.

When he was younger, the Argentine leader endured severe pneumonia and had part of his right lung removed. Earlier this year, he suffered two falls and had been seen with a walking stick or using a wheelchair to help his mobility, restricted by pain in his knee.

Throughout his papacy, he had to cancel a few trips due to ill health. In 2022, he canceled a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan after doctors said he might also have to miss a later trip to Canada for a knee injury. In 2023, the Vatican also said he was suffering from lung inflammation, which prevented him fulfilling some commitments, including attending COP28 climate talks in Dubai.

Francis also suffered from diverticulitis, a common condition that can cause inflammation or infection of the colon. In 2021, he had surgery to remove part of his colon.

In December 2022, Francis revealed that he had already signed his resignation letter to be used in the event of him becoming “impaired.” Francis made the comment in an interview with Spanish news outlet ABC, when asked what would happen if a pope was suddenly rendered unable to perform his duties due to health issues or an accident.