Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88.

He was the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church and held the position for 12-years. Prominent figure in the Vatican, Cardinal Kevin Farrell made the announcement of his passing pointing that Pope Francis had dedicated his entire life to the service of the Lord and of his Church.

He further noted that pontiff taught people to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.

Pope Francis death came a day after he made a brief appearance in front of thousands of people who had gathered at the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square for Easter Sunday.

In his Easter message, which was his last, he repeated the call for peace and global disarmament. He appealed again for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, for the release of the prisoners of war and for access to humanitarian aid. He called on the international community to act and “come to the aid of starving people.