The head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, Pope Francis, has died, the Vatican announced on Monday.
The 88-year-old Argentine was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli hospital on March 23, after a five-week, life-threatening bout of double pneumonia.
Last week Thursday, the pontiff made an unannounced visit to St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican dressed in black pants rather than his usual, traditional white papal attire.
In a video verified by Reuters, the 88-year-old pontiff is seen in a wheelchair wearing black pants and with a striped blanket wrapped around his chest.
He has only made one previous public appearance since being discharged on March 23, when he briefly greeted crowds during an event in St. Peter’s Square on April 6.
The pope rarely makes public appearances wearing civilian garb rather than his traditional papal vestments, but has occasionally dressed down during some trips abroad.
Born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was elected to the papacy in March 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in February 2013 over old age and health concerns.
