Pope Francis Passes Away at 88 After Prolonged Health Crisis

(MENAFN) Pope Francis has died at the age of 88 following a long battle with illness, the Vatican confirmed on Monday. He had been suffering from a "prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis" linked to thrombocytopenia, as previously reported by the Vatican.

Born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, to Italian immigrant parents, Francis pursued his studies in Argentina and later in Germany. He was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1969.

Throughout his papacy, which spanned more than a decade, Pope Francis remained both a beloved and controversial figure. He worked to reform the Vatican’s bureaucracy, combat corruption, and address key challenges facing the Catholic Church.

While celebrated for his humility and advocacy for social justice, his leadership also faced significant opposition from conservative factions both within and outside the Church.

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