Pope Francis dies

Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, Reuters writes, citing a video statement from the Vatican.

He was 88, and had suffered various illnesses during his 12-year papacy.

“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican’s TV channel. “At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”