Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff to lead the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88, after a prolonged illness. According to the Vatican, he suffered a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure. Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, the head of the Vatican’s health department, revealed that Francis also suffered from respiratory issues, bilateral pneumonia, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. He died on Monday at 7:35 a.m.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, Pope Francis became the head of the Catholic Church on March 13, 2013, after taking over from Pope Benedict XVI. Throughout his 12-year papacy, he was known for his humility, emphasis on God’s mercy, and commitment to social justice.

In his spiritual testament, dated June 29, 2022, Pope Francis revealed his wishes for a simple burial in Rome’s Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, with only the inscription “Franciscus.” He stated, “The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus.”

The Ministry of Home Affairs in India has announced a three-day State Mourning to pay respect to the late Pope Francis. Celebrities from around the world have also paid tribute to him. Eva Longoria said, “Rest in Peace, Your Holiness Pope Francis. Thank you for being an ally to many of us and speaking up for the marginalized. Your compassion, kindness and humility will always be remembered.” Whoopi Goldberg shared a photo from her 2023 meeting with Francis, calling him “the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christ’s love enveloped believer and non-believer.” Russell Crowe simply wrote, “RIP Francis.”

President Donald Trump expressed his condolences, saying, “He’s a very good man who loved the world. And he especially loved people that were having a hard time. And that’s good with me.” Trump is yet to confirm if he will attend Pope Francis’ funeral, stating, “I don’t know yet. We’re going to be briefed on it right now.” Despite previously being criticized by the Pope over his immigration policies, Trump expressed agreement with the pontiff’s message of tolerance.