He passed away just one day after he made a public appearance aboard the Popemobile at St. Peter’s Square, where tens of thousands of faithful had gathered to celebrate the Easter Mass. This was his first appearance among the crowd since being discharged from the hospital at the end of March.

Pope Francis's health had significantly deteriorated over the past few months. On February 14, he was hospitalized for pneumonia treatment in Rome, Italy.

At the age of 21, he underwent surgery to remove part of the lung, which led to recurring bouts of pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses throughout his life.

Born in 1936 in Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected to the highest position of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013, becoming the 266th Pope in history and the first Latin American to hold the papacy. 

Throughout his life, he was known for his simplicity, closeness to ordinary people, and left-leaning views. 

Bishop Tom Reese, a Christian scholar and columnist for Religion News Service (RNS) in the US, said that over the past decade, Pope Francis brought about significant changes for the Church.

“Francis really changed the church in a number of ways. I mean he's changed the whole style of being a pope. He changed the priorities of the church in terms of its pastoral practice and its public policy. He opened up the church for more conversations and debates and discussions. These are all dramatic ways that he changed the church from what it was earlier.”

Memorial activities will take place over the next nine days in commemoration of Pope Francis. In accordance with Francis' wishes, he  is expected to be buried at the ancient Basilica of St. Mary Major, rather than in Saint Peter's Basilica, where many previous Popes have been laid to rest. 

Within the next 15 to 20 days, the Vatican will convene a conclave, a gathering of cardinals under 80 from around the world to elect a new Catholic leader.