Pope Francis is dead at 88

Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church since March 2013, died at 88 just a day after his Easter Mass appearance, following a recent battle with double pneumonia. His death prompted global tributes, with world leaders acknowledging his moral leadership and advocacy for social justice and migration rights. As traditions unfold for his funeral and successor selection, Francis will be buried in Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, marking a departure from the Vatican burial custom, while his life and reforms continue to evoke both admiration and criticism among Catholics.