Pope Francis, whose time as head of the Catholic Church was noted for humility and outreach efforts to people of disparate backgrounds and faiths, has died at 88, the Vatican said.
The pontiff's funeral is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, according to the Vatican. Francis' death on Monday came after a series of worsening health problems, including a diagnosis of double pneumonia that put him in the hospital for more than a month earlier this year.
Watch ABC News live coverage of the funeral for Pope Francis on Saturday starting at 3:30 a.m. ET on ABC stations and streaming on ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu.
Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Apr 21, 2025, 7:14 AM EDT
White House shares photos of Trump, Vance with pope
The White House on Monday issued a short statement, saying, “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis,” alongside photos of the pontiff meeting President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Trump met with Francis and the Vatican’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on May 24, 2017, in Vatican City, according to the U.S. State Department.
Vance had a brief audience with the pope at the Vatican on Sunday, moments before Francis’ public appearance on the balcony on the facade of St. Peter's Basilica.
Apr 21, 2025, 7:01 AM EDT
Francis remembered for 'humility and spiritual courage'
Pope Francis will be remembered as "a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage," India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday, as tributes for the pontiff continued.
"From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden," Modi's statement read in part.
He added, "For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope. I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God's embrace."
The president of Kenya, William Samoei Ruto, said the pontiff had "exemplified servant leadership through his humility."
He added, "We join the Catholic Church and the global Christian community in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. This is a big loss to the Catholic faithful and the Christian world. Pope Francis will be remembered for a life dedicated to serving the Lord, the Church, and humanity."
A nun prays at St Peter's square following the death of Pope Francis in the Vatican on April 21, 2025. Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025 aged 88, a day after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter's Square on Easter Sunday, the Vatican said in a statement.
Andreas Solaro/AFP via Getty Images
Prime Minster Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom echoed those thoughts, praising Francis' "tireless efforts to promote a world that is fairer for all will leave a lasting legacy."
"Deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis," Starmer said in a statement released by his office. "His tireless efforts to promote a world that is fairer for all will leave a lasting legacy. On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom, I share my sincerest condolences to the whole Catholic Church."
Faithful react to the news of Pope Francis' death in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Monday, April 21, 2025.
Mauro Scrobogna/AP
And in Germany, the current and incoming chancellors released statements.
Olaf Scholz, the current leader, said: "With the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church and the world lose an advocate for the weak, a reconciling and a warm-hearted person. I greatly appreciated his clear view of the challenges we face. My sympathies go out to the religious community worldwide."
And Friedrich Merz, the incoming chancellor, said Francis will be remembered for "his tireless dedication to the weakest in society."
"The death of Pope Francis fills me with great sadness. Francis will be remembered for his tireless dedication to the weakest in society, for justice and reconciliation," Merz continued. "Humility and faith in God's mercy guided him. In doing so, the first Latin American on the Holy See touched people worldwide and across denominational boundaries. My thoughts are with the faithful around the world in these hours, who have lost their Holy Father. May he rest in peace."
-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian, Zoe Magee and Dragana Jovanovic
Apr 21, 2025, 6:19 AM EDT
King Charles 'deeply saddened' by Francis' death
Britain's King Charles and his wife, Camilla, were "deeply saddened" to learn of the pope's death, the monarch said in a statement on Monday, weeks after the pair met with Francis on a state visit to Italy.
This photo taken on April 9, 2025 and handout on April 10, 2025, by The Vatican Media shows Pope Francis during a private meeting with Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla in The Vatican.
Vatican Media/AFP via Getty Images
"His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others," Charles' Monday statement said in part.
He added, "His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many."
-ABC News' Zoe Magee
Apr 21, 2025, 6:05 AM EDT
Pope Francis, everyman leader of the Roman Catholic Church, dies at 88
Pope Francis, whose time as head of the Catholic Church was noted for an everyman humility and outreach efforts to people of disparate backgrounds and faiths, has died at 88, the Vatican has confirmed.
"At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church," Cardinal Kevin Farrell said on Monday.
Pope Francis was hospitalized for just over five weeks beginning in February 2025 to address what the Vatican initially said was a respiratory tract infection, for which he began receiving treatment. Four days after his hospitalization, the Vatican revealed that Francis had been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia.
