Harare, (New Ziana) – Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday, the Vatican announced.
He was 88, and had been in poor health lately.
“At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord of his church,” the Vatican said in statement.
Pope Francis, who had been at the helm of the Roman Catholic Church since 2013, died hours after making a rare public appearance on Sunday to celebrate Easter Mass.
Due to ill-health, he had largely withdrawn from public engagements in recent months.
Last month, he spent weeks in hospital gravely ill, and was only discharged recently.
His appearance in public on Sunday, though on a wheelchair, had raised hopes among the Catholic faithful that he was on his was way to full recovery.
(More to follow…)
New Ziana
