Pope Francis, who just delivered his Easter blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, has died. Less than 24 hours after that final moment, the 88-year-old pope—who broke centuries of tradition and opened the church to the edges of society—passed away early Monday at his Vatican residence.
He was the first Latin American pope, the first Jesuit, and the first in over 1,200 years to come from outside of Europe. But what set the pope apart was his posture—always leaning toward the poor, the forgotten, the outcast.
He called out President Donald Trump’s deportation policies. He called for action on climate. He challenged the church to confront its own sins. And just yesterday, he smiled and waved from the popemobile like he had years left to give.
Now begins a global period of mourning and the search for the next leader of the Catholic Church.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
