Francis, who emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless the thousands of people in St. Peter's Square, died on Monday morning, the Vatican announced.

The pope's death comes one day after Francis, 88, greeted Easter Sunday crowds in his popemobile. He had battled a respiratory infection for weeks.

Rome — Pope Francis, who challenged deeply rooted norms and made it his mission to change the perception of the Catholic Church around the world, has died at the age of 88. The Vatican said Pope Francis died just after 7:30 a.