April 21 (UPI) -- Pope Francis died Monday morning of a stroke and heart failure, less than a day after greeting a huge Easter Sunday gathering of Catholics in St. Peter's Square and issuing a plea for world peace, the Vatican said. Latin America's first pontiff was 88.
Francis' other ailments included a "previous episode of acute respiratory failure," arterial hypertension and Type II diabetes, in a statement signed by Andrea Arcangeli, director of the Health and Hygiene Directorate of the Vatican City State.
Francis, who had one of his lungs removed in his early 20s, was admitted to Genelli Hospital in Rome on Feb. 14 with breathing difficulties and was later diagnosed with double pneumonia and kidney failure. At times he was on a breathing machine but was released after spending 38 days in the hospital.
The Vatican camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, said in an announcement that the pontiff died at around 7:35 a.m. local time in his official residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta building.
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"At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His whole life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized."
The frail pontiff was wheeled out onto the balcony over the entrance of St Peter's Basilica, and was driven in the popemobile through the crowds in St Peter's Square.
In front of thousands of Roman Catholics, Francis called for an end to the wars in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan. Francis sat while an aide delivered the remarks.
Francis served for 12 years after taking over from Pope Benedict XVI in 2013.
The oldest pope to serve was Pope Leo XIII, who died at 93 on July, 20, 1903.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who holds the position of "camerlengo," or chamberlain, is acting head of state.
Days of mourning, funeral
There will be a nine-day mourning period called Novemdiales. Vatican flags will fly at half-staff, and the bronze doors of St. Peter's Basilica are closed. Argentina, where he was born, and adjacent Brazil have one week of mourning.
The funeral must take place four to six days after his death and be held in St. Peter's Square, weather permitting.
In his last will and testament, he wrote: "Feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching and with lively hope in Eternal Life, I wish to express my testamentary will only with regard to the place of my burial."
Details of the funeral are guided by an April 2024 updated version of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, as approved by the late pontiff who wanted a more modest, humble send-off.
These include confirmation of death taking place in the chapel, rather than in the room where the pope passes, and the body being placed inside the coffin immediately. According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, funeral rites are to be simplified and focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ.
"The renewed rite seeks to emphasize even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world, Ravelli sai.
In his will signed June 29, 2022, Pope Francis said he wanted to be buried in a "simple" tomb in the ground at Rome's Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. He will be the first pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican.
An unnamed benefactor will cover the expenses of his burial.
"The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus," the pontiff wrote.
Between 15 and 20 days after his death, voting among isolated Cardinal Electors of the papal conclave will commence. Only cardinals under the age of 80, which is currently a group of about 135, are eligible to vote. White smoke signals will emerge when they have elected a new leader with black smoke meaning the cardinals will need to vote again.
Then there is a Mass to celebrate the installation of the 267th pope.
A rosary prayer took place at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City on Monday.
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, led the service in front of hundreds of mourners in and around the square.
"We wish to thank the Lord for the gifts he bestowed upon the entire church through the apostolic ministry of Pope Francis, a pilgrim of hope who never disappointed," he said. "We wish to entrust him to the merciful father in communion with Mary, Queen of Heaven, and through the intercession of the apostle Peter," Gambetti said.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, will celebrate a Mass at Saint Patrick's Cathedral at noon Tuesday.
Biography
He was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 17, 1936, the son of Italian immigrants. He had four siblings.
The Vatican published his biography.
He graduated as a chemical technician and chose to become a priest, entering the Diocesan Seminary of Villa Devoto. He completed his studies of the humanities in Chile and returned to Argentina in 1963 to graduate with a degree in philosophy from the Colegio de San José in San Miguel.
From 1964 to 1965 he taught literature and psychology at Immaculate Conception College in Santa Fe and in 1966 the same subject at the Colegio del Salvatore in Buenos Aires.
From 1967 to 1970 he studied theology and obtained a degree from the College of San Jose.
On Dec. 13, 1969, he was ordained a priest. On April 22, 1973, he made his final profession with the Jesuits. In Argentina, he was a novice master at Villa Barilari.
Pope John Paul appointed him bishop of Auca and auxiliary of Buenos Aires on May 20, 1990.
On Feb, 21, 2000, John Paul name him to be a cardinal, assigning him the title of San Roberto Bellarmino.
In April 2005 he took part in the Conclave in which Pope Benedict XVI was elected.
After Benedict resigned, he was elected Supreme Pontis on March 13, 2013.
He was the first to take the name of Francis, which was after St. Francis of Assisi.
