Pope Francis has died at age 88

Pope Francis died early this morning at 7:35 a.m. Rome time. He was 88. His death follows a 38-day hospital stay for double pneumonia that ended last month.

He died at Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse where he lived. A brief service was held there, led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, who now oversees preparations for the next conclave.

In announcing the pope’s death, Cardinal Farrell said Francis “taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and the marginalized.”

The cardinals will meet tomorrow, April 22, to set the date of the funeral. Pope Francis will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica, likely beginning Wednesday, April 23.

We’ll have much more coverage in the days ahead. For now, you can find Gerry’s obituary and our ongoing reporting here:

• Pope Francis, trailblazing Jesuit with a heart for the poor, dies at 88
• Pope Francis never stopped being a Jesuit
• How Pope Francis changed the place of women in the church
• Pope Francis pushed the U.S. church to move beyond the culture wars—with mixed results
• What happens after a pope dies?
• The official documents of Pope Francis’ papacy

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