Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has passed away at the age of 88. Chief Advisor Dr Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow following the news of his death.
According to a report by the BBC, Pope Francis died at 7:35 am local time on Monday, April 21. He had been suffering from severe complications related to his lungs for an extended period.
Pope Francis made history as the first non-European pope since 741 AD, following the death of Pope Gregory III, who was of Syrian descent. For over a millennium afterwards, all popes had been of European origin—until the election of Pope Francis.
Throughout his papacy, he was committed to reforming the Catholic Church, earning respect and admiration from people around the world. His humility, progressive stance, and unwavering dedication made him a beloved figure not only among Christians but across global communities.
In an official statement, Vatican spokesperson Cardinal Farrell said, "Pope Francis dedicated his entire life to serving God and the Church." Remarkably, just a day before his passing, he appeared at St. Peter’s Square to deliver an Easter message to thousands of worshippers.
The news of his death has plunged the Christian world and countless faithful followers into mourning.
Pope Francis became the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI.
