“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with deep sadness that I must announce the death of the Pope. At 7:35 this morning (12:35 pm Hanoi time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father’s house,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on Vatican television on April 21.

“His whole life was dedicated to the service of God and the Church. He taught us to live the values ​​of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and charity, especially towards the poorest and most disadvantaged. With infinite gratitude for the example of him, a true disciple of Jesus, we entrust the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite love of the Trinity,” the Vatican statement said.

After the news was announced, many believers flocked to St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican to express their condolences.

The Pope’s remains will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing. The mourning period will last nine days, with the specific dates to be decided by the cardinals. Traditionally, a Pope’s funeral is held four to six days after his death, in St. Peter’s Square.

During his lifetime, Pope Francis said that unlike many of his predecessors, he would not be buried in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica, but in the Basilica of St. Mary in Rome. He asked to be buried in a simple wooden coffin.

The Pope died a day after he appeared in the Popemobile and drove through St. Peter’s Square as tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered at the Vatican for Easter Mass. It was his first public appearance since being discharged from hospital in late March.

Pope Francis, 88, was twice close to death earlier this year after contracting pneumonia. He spent five weeks in Rome’s Gemelli hospital before being discharged on March 23.

Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is the eldest son of Italian immigrants. Before entering the priesthood, he studied chemical engineering and worked in a laboratory.

He was ordained a priest in 1969 and gradually took on important roles, from provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina to Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. In 2001, he was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II. He is known for his simple lifestyle, closeness to the poor, and frequent use of public transport.

He became leader of the Catholic Church on March 13, 2013, after Pope Benedict XVI resigned on February 28, 2013, marking the first time a pope has come from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere. He has chosen to live in the Casa Santa Marta, the residence for priests working in the Vatican, instead of the traditional papal residence.

During his years as head of the Vatican, Pope Francis has worked to defend the vulnerable, from migrants to communities affected by climate change. He has always displayed humility and simplicity, often calling widows, rape victims and prisoners.

Pope Francis is seen as more approachable than his predecessors. He is willing to talk to young people about many issues and talks openly about his health.