Pope Francis Dies Aged 88 After Battle With Double Pneumonia

Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88 following a grueling struggle with double pneumonia, marking the end of a transformative era for the Roman Catholic Church, Cape town Etc reports.

His final days were spent at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where the Vatican had been cautiously optimistic, despite the Pope's increasingly fragile condition. He had been admitted after developing bronchitis, but an X-ray later revealed he was battling a more serious double pneumonia. Despite initial signs of stability, a sudden respiratory downturn led to urgent interventions including blood transfusions.

He remained alert until his final moments, sitting in an armchair as doctors monitored his deteriorating condition, complicated by thrombocytopenia and anemia.

The Pope's absence from St. Peter's Square last Sunday, and the cancellation of a Jubilee Year Mass and a cultural visit to Cinecitta film studios, had already stirred concern among the faithful. On Saturday, the Vatican admitted his health had entered a 'critical' stage, and though he had expressed gratitude for global prayers, insiders reported he privately feared he wouldn't recover.

This loss has shaken the Catholic community of 1.4 billion followers worldwide. Having taken the reins of the Church in 2013 after Pope Benedict XVIs resignation, Francis-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires-ushered in a modernised Vatican. Known for his humility and progressive views, Francis broke convention in many ways. He decried the criminalisation of homosexuality, supported migrant rights, and issued stern warnings against authoritarianism and environmental destruction.