Cardinal Kevin Farrell issued a statement that was published by the Vatican on its Telegram channel saying, “This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT) the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father.”

On March 13, 2013, Pope Francis addressed millions from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica with a simple ‘brothers and sisters, good evening’. This was a clear departure from the usual “praised be Jesus Christ” salutation. The pontiff took the name Francis to honour Francis of Assisi, who was the saint associated with respect for the environment and concern for the poor.

Inheriting a deeply divided Church from his predecessor Benedict XVI, Pope Francis took several measures to overhaul the institution. The first non-European pope in 1,300 years, Francis’ tenure was also marked by s3xual abuse scandals