Global mourning as 'champion' Pope Francis dies aged 88

By AFP with Clément MELKI

Pope Francis died of a stroke, the Vatican announced hours after the death on Monday of the 88-year-old reformer who inspired devotion but riled traditionalists during 12 years leading the Catholic Church.

The Argentine pontiff died at his Santa Marta residence in the Vatican almost a month after leaving hospital following a five-week stay battling double pneumonia.

One day after he greeted Easter crowds in St Peter's Square, mourners gathered in the plaza, many in tears, to mark his passing.

"He's actually returned to the Lord -- and godspeed," Italian Cesarina Cireddu told AFP.

World leaders from US President Donald Trump to Russian leader Vladimir Putin paid tribute to the pope's moral and spiritual leadership. Prayers were held around the world.

"We are orphaned," said street sweeper Javier Languenari, 53, in the pope's home city of Buenos Aires, as Argentina declared a week of national mourning.

According to the death certificate released by the Vatican, Francis died of a stroke, causing a coma and "irreversible" heart failure.

It also revealed he had Type 2 diabetes, which was not previously known.

In his will, also released by the Vatican, the pope wrote that he felt that "the sunset of my earthly life is approaching".

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican official who takes over the immediate running of church affairs, announced Francis's death.

"This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT) the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church," said the camerlengo.

Francis's body was to be laid on Monday evening in a single coffin of wood and zinc in the Santa Marta chapel, ahead of the transfer likely Wednesday to St Peter's Basilica to lie in state.

Cardinals will meet on Tuesday to start planning the funeral at St Peter's Basilica, which must take place between four and six days after the death -- between Friday and Sunday.

Francis had already announced he would be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. In his will published Monday, he said he wanted a simple, unadorned tomb "with the only inscription: Franciscus", Francis in Latin.

The cardinals will also start preparing the conclave, where cardinals under the age of 80 will meet within three weeks to decide who will become Francis's successor.

Praise from Mideast leaders over Gaza stance

Middle Eastern leaders and Arab movements praised Pope Francis, who died on Monday, for criticising Israel's offensive on Gaza, his calls for a ceasefire and his commitment to interfaith dialogue.

"We lost a faithful friend of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights," Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said, according to the official Wafa news agency.

He noted that Francis "recognised the Palestinian state and authorised the Palestinian flag to be raised in the Vatican".

Bassem Naim, a senior official from Hamas which runs the Gaza Strip, hailed the pope's opposition to the 18-month-long war between Israel and Hamas.

"Pope Francis was a steadfast advocate for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, particularly in his unwavering stance against the war and acts of genocide perpetrated against our people in Gaza in recent months," Naim said in a statement.

Francis spoke of the Gaza war a day before he died, saying that a "growing climate of anti-Semitism around the world is worrisome" while condemning the "deplorable humanitarian situation" in Gaza and reiterating his call for a ceasefire.

Palestinian Christians in Gaza mourned the death of Pope Francis, who had maintained close and consistent video contact with the territory's small Christian community throughout the ongoing war.

Since the outbreak of fighting between Israel and Hamas, Francis had regularly called Gaza's Christians, often several times a week, offering prayers, encouragement and solidarity.

The Christian community feels "as though a light of love and peace has been extinguished", said George Ayad, 67, in Gaza.

Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Francis's "voice in condemning Israeli brutality was loud and clear until the very last moment".

His "compass on the Palestinian issue always pointed in the right direction", Aboul Gheit added, recalling "his daily communication with the residents of Gaza as they endured brutal Israeli aggression and bombardment".

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian praised Francis's "condemnation of the genocide committed by the Israeli regime in Gaza".

Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group, which initiated cross-border hostilities with Israel over the Gaza war, noted Francis's "clear positions calling for an end to the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip... and his support for the Palestinian cause".

Egypt's Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's prestigious seat of learning, said Francis would be remembered for championing interfaith dialogue.

Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb said his "brother" had "strengthened relations with Al-Azhar and the Islamic world, through his visits to numerous Islamic and Arab countries, and through his views demonstrating fairness and humanity, particularly regarding the aggression on Gaza and combating abhorrent Islamophobia".

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Francis "worked tirelessly to promote tolerance and build bridges of dialogue... and was a champion of the Palestinian cause, defending legitimate rights and calling for an end to conflict".

King Abdullah II of Jordan said in a statement that Francis "brought people together, leading with kindness, humility, and compassion".

Morocco's King Mohammed VI paid tribute to Francis's dedication to "peace, dialogue, tolerance" and religious coexistence.

Lebanon's Christian President Joseph Aoun called Francis's death "a loss for all humanity, for he was a powerful voice for justice and peace" who called for "dialogue between religions and cultures".

The multi-confessional country announced three days of official mourning.

'Terrible shock'

A hush descended on the normally boisterous St Peter's Square as the death knell rang out for the pope's passing.

Caroline Wahl, visiting from Germany, said the pope had looked "weak" when they saw him on Easter Sunday, adding that thinking about him now gave her "goosebumps".

The bells at Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris in France rang out 88 times -- one for each year of the pope's life -- and they also tolled in Mosul, in Iraq, where the pope visited in 2021.

In Kinshasa, Madeleine Bomendje struggled to accept the news: "It's a terrible shock," she said.

The lights of the Eiffel tower were turned off on Monday night, while the Colosseum in Rome was to go dark on Tuesday.

'Beacon of compassion'

Francis, born Jorge Bergoglio, was the first Jesuit to lead the Catholic world and the first from the Americas.

He took over after Benedict XVI became the first pontiff since the Middle Ages to step down -- and cut a sharply different figure from the German theologian.

A football-loving former archbishop of Buenos Aires, Francis sought to forge a more open and compassionate Church.

He strongly defended social justice and the rights of migrants, and repeatedly called for action against climate change.

Throughout his papacy, Francis championed the poor and vulnerable and emphasised love over doctrine, famously saying of gay believers, "who am I to judge".

His views riled Church traditionalists, while his outspoken views often clashed with those of politicians, but widespread tributes were paid.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Francis a "beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage".

Argentina's President Javier Milei -- who had before taking office accused Francis of being an "imbecile" who "promotes communism" pointed to his compatriot's "goodness and wisdom" despite their "differences".

US President Donald Trump -- who recently drew the ire of Francis with his mass deportations of migrants -- wrote "Rest in Peace" on his Truth Social platform, and ordered flags to be flown at half mast.

Former US president Joe Biden, a Catholic, hailed "one of the most consequential leaders of our time".

Health issues

Francis, who had part of his lung removed as a young man, almost died twice while in hospital with double pneumonia -- but still defied doctor's orders to take two months off after returning home.

Known for being stubborn, he made several public appearances, including meeting Britain's King Charles and visiting a prison.

But he struggled to speak, and delegated the traditional Easter Sunday "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the City and the World") benediction to an associate.

He later toured Saint Peter's Square in his popemobile, greeting worshippers.

His hospital stay was the latest of a series of health issues, from colon and hernia surgery to problems walking, which saw him take to a wheelchair in recent years.

But he never took a day off and made frequent trips abroad, including a four-nation Asia-Pacific tour last September which drew huge crowds.