Pope Francis, the first pontiff from America, dies in 88

Pope Francis, the Argentine Jesuit, who became the first Roman Catholic Pontiff from America, died, the Vatican said on Monday. He was 88.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the news in the video. “Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sadness, I have to report the death of our Holy Father Francis,” he said, according to the translation.

“At 7:35 this morning, Bishop Rome, Francis, returned to the Father’s House. All His life was devoted to the service of the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values ​​of the gospel with loyalty, courage and universal love, especially for the benefit and marginalized,” the Cardinal said.

“With great gratitude for his example of the true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we welcome the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love for the triune God.”

Francis, who was elected 266 Pope Church after Benedict XVI retirement in 2013, was born as Jorge Mario Bergolio in the Middle Class neighborhood in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936.

He was the first Jesuit Pope and the first Pope from the Southern Hemisphere. He was the first person out of the borders of Europe, selected to head the church nearly 1300 years after Dad Gregory III Syriawhich was selected in 731.

The son of the father of the Italian immigrant and the Italian Argentine mother, Francis was the eldest of five children. As a student, he worked as a janitor and nightclub before becoming a chemical technician.

Francis was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1969 and became the head of the Order of the Jesus Society in Argentina and Uruguay in 1973 at the age of 36, holding the post by 1979.

Pope John Paul II appointed Francis Bishop in 1992, and six years later, Francis became Archbishop Buenos -Aires. In 2001, John Paul made him a cardinal.

Francis ruled the Catholic Church during an increase. In 2021, the US bishops made an offer that would deny Communion before the recent president Joe Biden for support for abortion rights. Voting by the American Conference of Catholic Bishops to develop a plan appeared objection From the main doctrinal advisor to the Pope, Cardinal Luis Ladar.

More than two months later, Francis himself is strongly hint His opposition to the proposal of American bishops who tell the journalists: “Communion is not a prize for perfect.”

“I never refused anyone the Eucharist,” the Pope said, calling the bishops to be pastors, not politicians. “What should the pastor do?” He continued. “Be the pastor, do not condemn. Be the pastor because he is also a pastor for separated.”

But he also firmly declared his abortion confrontation, calling it a “murder.” “He who has abortion kills,” he said.

Although Francis sought to avoid the escalation of cultural wars and the polarization of his flock, he suggested encouraging LGBTQ+ Catholics. Flying back to Rome from Portugal in August 2023, he told reporters that the Catholic Church was open to all And that he is obliged to accompany people on the personal path of spirituality within his rules.

During one event in Portugal, Francis advertised the inclusive character of the church, the leading crowd in the singing “Todas, Todas, Todas!” (All, all, all!).

It limited 2023 years, saying that priests could bless same -sex couplesserious changes in the Vatican policy. The Pope said such blessings should not resemble marriages, but people who seek God’s love and mercy should not be subjected to “exhaustive moral analysis” to get it.

He also wanted a big role for women in the church, especially in high -ranking Vatican positions. In April 2023 he announced that he decided to give Women’s right voice At the future meeting of the bishops. It was a historical first and two goals achieved: giving women higher decisions and allowing non -professionals to say more in the life of the Church.

If Francis was a young man, he had removed a part of the lungs from -lin complications from pulmonary illness, health problem said the Vatican In 2013, he never influenced his work.

In recent years, he had health problems, including various respiratory problems, influenza and several operations.

He was hospitalized for the first time as a pope when he underwent a colon surgery on July 4, 2021 at Hemel Hospital for Diverticular stenosis. The Vatican stated that the operation was planned, but the announcement sent shock waves through the church.

He was hospitalized again at the end of March 2023 and was treated from bronchitis. He went to the journalists before he was driven away that he was still alive. A little over two months had a hernia repair operation.