Pope Francis confirmed in his final testament that he wished to be buried in Rome's Basilica of Saint Mary Major and not at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, unlike many previous pontiffs.

Francis died aged 88 earlier on Monday. The Vatican released his final testament in the evening.

The text specified that Francis wanted to be buried "in the ground, without particular decoration" but with the inscription of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.

Pope Francis died of a stroke and irreversible heart failure, Vatican doctor Andrea Arcangeli said in a death certificate released on Monday for the 88-year-old pontiff.

The certificate, which was published by the Vatican, said the pope had fallen into a coma before his death early on Monday.

President Donald Trump and his White House predecessor Joe Biden led the way in paying respects from the United States to Pope Francis, who died Monday at 88.

Trump, who has had a sometimes thorny relationship with the Vatican, ordered US flags to be flown at half-staff at the White House, and at federal property across the world.

"He was a good man, he worked hard and loved the world," Trump said at a White House event marking Easter. 

He had earlier posted on social media: "Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!"

Biden, who was only the second Roman Catholic to serve as US president, hailed the late pope as "unlike any who came before him."

"Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him," Biden wrote on X alongside a picture of him and the Pope. 

After spending more than five weeks in hospital for a bout of double pneumonia, doctors told Pope Francis he needed two months' rest - but the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics kept working right to the end.

On Easter Sunday, the day before his death aged 88, Francis made his first prolonged public appearance since February, entering St. Peter's Square in a white popemobile to greet cheering crowds.

And for only the second time since leaving hospital on March 23, the pope also met on Sunday with foreign leaders, welcoming U.S. Vice President JD Vance to his residence for a brief encounter.

"I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill," Vance wrote on X. "May God rest his soul."

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and his family also had a brief meeting with Francis on Sunday.

"It was a brief moment, but profoundly touching, a meeting of kindness, smiles, and blessing," Plenkovic said in a statement on Monday.

For someone in convalescence after a prolonged illness, Francis was working himself hard.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, a senior Vatican official who was close to Francis, said: "Absolute rest isn't healing," adding: "He balanced convalescence with his being the Bishop of Rome."

The Centre on Monday announced a three-day State Mourning after Pope Francis' death.

US President Donald Trump issued a proclamation Monday ordering US flags to be flown at half-staff to honor Pope Francis after the Argentine pontiff's death aged 88.

Trump ordered that the flag be lowered at the White House and public and military properties, as well as on naval vessels and foreign diplomatic missions, "as a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis."

The Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, which Pope Francis chose as his final resting place, is a fifth-century church located in the centre of Rome that already holds the tombs of seven popes, AFP reported.

The Argentinian pontiff, who died Monday at the age of 88, will be first in more than a century who will not be entombed in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

Francis was very devoted to the worship of the Virgin Mary and made a point to pray in Santa Maria Maggiore before leaving on trips abroad and upon his return to Rome. 

Most recently, Francis prayed to the icon of the Virgin Mary inside the basilica on April 12, to mark the beginning of the Holy Week that culminated in Easter. 

Francis declared his desire to be entombed in the basilica -- known in English as the Basilica of Saint Mary Major -- in 2023.

The last pope to be buried there was Clement IX in 1669. And the last pontiff to be buried outside the Vatican was Leo XIII in 1903, whose final resting place is the Church of Saint John Lateran, the Cathedral of the bishop of Rome.

Palestinian Christians in Gaza on Monday mourned the death of Pope Francis, who had maintained close and consistent video contact with the small Christian community in the territory throughout the ongoing war.

Since the outbreak of fighting between Israel and Hamas, Francis had regularly called Gaza's Christians, often several times a week, offering prayers, encouragement, and solidarity.

Below are reflections shared with AFP by some members of Gaza's Christian community following the death of the pontiff, who had condemned the "cruelty" of Israeli strikes:

Elias al-Sayegh from Zeitun in central Gaza: "I always waited to hear the words of the Holy Father. I would watch him on television, and through the screens. He gave us hope with his messages and prayers." 

George Ayad of Al-Sahaba area in Gaza City: "With the pope's passing, we in Gaza feel as though a light of love and peace has been extinguished." 

Ibrahim al-Tarazi from Al-Rimal area of Gaza City: "A heartbreaking and shocking piece of news for all Christians in Gaza and Palestine, and for peace lovers around the world." 

The first public prayer for Pope Francis following his death will take place in St Peter's Square at 1730 GMT on Monday, the Vatican said.

The Rosary, for which thousands of faithful are expected to attend, will be presided over by Italian Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the Holy See's press office said. 

They had come from around the world and crammed into St Peter's Square to hear the pope deliver an appeal for peace on Easter. A day later, he was dead.

Tourists and pilgrims who flocked to Rome for Holy Week were dazed with shock at news of the death of Francis, the morning after he had driven in his open-topped pope mobile through crowds cheering "viva il papa!" on Christianity's holiest day, Reuters reported.

Father Bachai, a retired priest from the United States who had come to Rome for Holy Week, compared the pain of learning of the pope's sudden death to a bruise.

"He appeared in public yesterday, looked healthy. I was so shocked, and sad of course," he said.

Sue Rak, visiting Rome from Ghana with her husband and child, said she believed Francis "wanted to meet God".

"May he rest in peace. He has done well in the world," she said. "He wanted to protect the weak."

An atmosphere of mourning gradually filtered over the square as the news sank in with both tourists and Romans who had been enjoying a sun-drenched Easter Monday holiday. At noon, St Peter's bells tolled in mourning and a silence descended upon the crowd.

"We saw him here, he was just driven by in the car. It was shocking news this morning," said Letizia Bartocci, who works in a jewellery shop a short distance from the square.

"This is something that really hits you hard," said Emanuela Tinari, who is from Rome and was with her boyfriend Gianmarco Omiccioli. "He was a pope who brought so many people closer to the church."

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney paid tribute Monday to Pope Francis, praising his "deep moral clarity, spiritual courage and boundless compassion."

"Through his teachings and actions, Pope Francis redefined the moral responsibilities of leadership in the 21st century," Carney said in a statement.

"Pope Francis leaves a spiritual and ethical legacy that will shape our collective conscience for generations to come," he added.

US Vice President JD Vance - the last world leader to meet Pope Francis - has expressed his grief over the death of the head of the Catholic Church. Mr Vance met the Pope, for a few minutes, on Sunday.

"My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday... though he was obviously very ill. But I'll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful."

Pope Francis died at home in his apartment at the Saint Martha residence in the Vatican, the Holy See's press service said on Monday.

His cause of death will "probably" be shared with the public on Monday night following the official declaration of his death, scheduled for 8:00 pm (1800 GMT), the press service added.

Here are some statistics about Pope Francis' legacy:

ELECTION, TENURE AND RECORD

Before being elected as the first Pope from Latin America on March 13, 2013, former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina became the first pontiff to take the name Francis. He became the 266th Pope. His tenure as Pope lasted 12 years and 1 month, surpassing the 7.5 year average tenure of his 265 predecessors. During his papacy, he became the second-oldest Pope in history - the longest being Pope Leo XIII, who was 93 when he died in 1903. Pope Benedict XVI, who Pope Francis succeeded in 2013, had lived to the age of 95, but had retired from the papacy when he was 85.

CARDINALS APPOINTED

During his twelve-year term, Pope Francis appointed as many as 109 Cardinals who are now eligible to vote for the next Pope. Currently, of the total 252 Cardinals - the red-hatted "princes of the Church" - 135 are below the age of 80, and are therefore eligible under Church law to enter a conclave to elect the next pope. Those who are eligible to vote are known as Cardinal electors.

Besides electing the next Pope, Cardinals advise the Pope during their tenure, run major dioceses around the world, and often lead powerful departments within the Vatican bureaucracy.

GLOBAL VISITS

Pope Francis travelled far and wide to spread the message of peace and compassion. He travelled outside of Italy 47 times, during which he visited more than 65 countries - nearly a third of third of all nations globally. His international visits account for more than 465,000 km over 12 years.

According to Reuters, Pope Francis was the first non-European pope in 1,300 years, the first from Latin America and the first Jesuit to hold the post. Jesuits are known for their commitment to education and social justice, including working with the poor and marginalised.

He shunned many of the traditional trappings of the papacy, preferring to live in a modern Vatican guest house rather than the grand papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace. He pared back the papal wardrobe, wore a plastic watch and chose to be driven around in a simple family car.

He soon clashed with conservatives, who were unhappy with his informal style from the start. They balked at his calls for the Church to be more welcoming to LGBT people and divorced Catholics and at his clampdowns on the use of the traditional Latin Mass.

Argentines, fresh from holding Easter family gatherings around the parrilla barbecue, woke on Monday to the sad news that Pope Francis, the former archbishop of Buenos Aires, had died in the Vatican at the age of 88 after battling illness.

Born in Buenos Aires as Jorge Bergoglio in 1936 to Italian immigrant parents, Francis was the first Latin American pope. Some in his homeland regretted that he never returned as pontiff, but he gained plaudits for his focus on the poor, Reuters reported.

"It is with profound sorrow that I learned this sad morning that Pope Francis, Jorge Bergoglio, passed away today and is now resting in peace," Argentina's libertarian President Javier Milei wrote in a message on social media platform X.

Milei, a bombastic economist strongly in favor of free markets, had clashed with the pope previously, lambasting him as a socialist and even calling him the devil's representative on earth, though patched things up once in office.

Argentina's presidency office praised Pope Francis' focus on inter-religious dialogue, building up spirituality amongst the young and for pushing cost-cutting in the Vatican, something that tallies with Milei's 'chainsaw' austerity.

"Despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his goodness and wisdom was a true honor for me," Milei added on X. "I bid farewell to the Holy Father and stand with all of us who are today dealing with this sad news."

The Dalai Lama praised Pope Francis on Monday, offering Buddhist prayers and writing to the papal envoy to "express his sadness" at his death.

"Pope Francis dedicated himself to the service of others... consistently revealing by his own actions how to live a simple, but meaningful life," the Buddhist leader said in a statement from his base in exile in India.

"The best tribute we can pay to him is to be a warm-hearted person, serving others wherever and in whatever way we can," he said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar condoled the demise of Pope Francis and said his compassion and commitment to building a better world defined his papacy.

"Saddened at the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. His compassion and commitment to building a better world defined his papacy," Jaishankar said in a social media post.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin

One of the most talked-about names in the race to succeed Pope Francis is Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State. 

Parolin, 70, is considered a seasoned diplomat who has served in various key Vatican roles, including as papal nuncio to Venezuela. He has built a reputation as a moderate figure within the Church. 

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, is the seventh Filipino to become a cardinal and could be the first Asian pope. He works in the Dicastery for Evangelisation, helping spread the faith. Made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI, Tagle, like Pope Francis, is known for his progressive views. He has spoken out against the harsh treatment of homosexuals, unwed mothers, and divorced Catholics, saying these groups were often isolated by the Church's language.

Cardinal Peter Erdo

Cardinal Erdo, 72, is a Hungarian cleric known for his conservative views within the Catholic Church. As a former president of the Council of Bishops' Conferences of Europe, he is also a devout Marian, dedicating his practices to Mary, the mother of Jesus. 

He has opposed divorced or remarried Catholics from receiving Holy Communion, believing that marriage cannot be broken. He has also made controversial remarks, comparing the act of accepting refugees to human trafficking. Erdo was appointed a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2003.

Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke

Cardinal Raymond Burke, born in Wisconsin, US, is known as an outspoken traditionalist. Made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, Burke has frequently clashed with Pope Francis over more liberal views, especially on issues like allowing divorced and remarried couples to receive the Eucharist. 

He has criticised the Church's new stance on artificial contraception, civil marriages, and gay people. Burke has previously said that Catholic politicians who support legalised abortion, like Joe Biden, should not receive the Eucharist.

Cardinal Robert Sarah

Cardinal Robert Sarah, 76, from Guinea in Africa, is a prominent conservative figure in the Catholic Church. He is known for his strong views on keeping traditional practices and beliefs. Sarah has criticised some of Pope Francis's more liberal ideas, especially on marriage, family, and the role of women in the Church.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, was close to Pope Francis and became president of the Episcopal Conference of Italy in 2022. 

Made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019, Zuppi has travelled globally, including a peace mission to Ukraine where he met President Volodymyr Zelensky but not Vladimir Putin. He also met former President Joe Biden in the US. 

Before becoming a cardinal, Zuppi supported positive dialogue with the LGBTQ community, writing in a 2018 book that it's important to encourage understanding and a new approach to pastoral care for LGBTQ people.

US President Donald Trump paid his respects to Pope Francis, writing "Rest in Peace" in a short post on his Truth Social platform. 

"Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!" Trump said. 

The Eiffel Tower's landmark illuminations will be switched off on Monday night in memory of Pope Francis who died aged 88, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said.

City hall was planning to name a site in the French capital after Francis who, she said, had placed "ecology at the centre of spiritual concerns" and had argued in favour of "welcoming refugees".

The film Conclave, which swept awards this season - including Best Picture and Best Actor for Ralph Fiennes - has become an unexpected primer for the masses on how the next leader of the Catholic Church will be chosen. 

Based on Robert Harris's 2016 novel of the same name, the movie offers not only a dramatised insight into the rituals and politics that underpin the election of a new pope, but also startling parallels with the present. Click here to read more

The Vatican has suspended due to Pope Francis' death a planned ceremony for the Catholic Church to proclaim the first saint from the millennial generation, it said in a statement on Monday.

Carlo Acutis, an Italian boy who died from leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15, was originally set to be made a saint at a ceremony in St. Peter's Square on April 27.

Pope Francis's body will be laid in a coffin in the chapel at the Saint Martha residence where he lived at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) on Monday, the Vatican said.

"Tonight, Monday April 21 at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT), His Eminence the Most Reverend Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of certification of death and the laying of the body in the coffin," the Holy See said in a statement.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday joined millions across the globe to condole the death of Pope Francis who, he said, was a "global voice of compassion, justice and peace". 

In a post on X, the Rae Bareli MP shared a photo of Pope Francis with a dove in his hand, and said: "He stood by the downtrodden and the marginalised, spoke fearlessly against inequality, and inspired millions across faiths with his message of love and humanity."

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the demise of Pope Francis, describing him as an ardent advocate for the poor and the marginalised.

In a message, the chief minister said Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy marked by compassion, inclusivity, and a profound commitment to social justice.

His papacy was characterised by significant outreach to marginalised communities, interfaith dialogue, and a critical stance on global capitalism, the Left veteran recalled.

"Pope Francis was an ardent advocate for the poor and the marginalised," he said.

He frequently emphasised the Church's mission to serve those "discarded" by society, including the homeless and impoverished, the chief minister noted.

His experiences in Buenos Aires shaped his understanding of poverty, leading him to declare that "the globalisation of indifference" must be countered with active compassion for the needy.

Pope Francis's commitment to LGBTQIA+ rights evolved during his papacy, as he sought to foster a more inclusive Church, Vijayan said, adding that he famously stated, "Everyone has dignity", regardless of sexual orientation.

This message, the CM said, resonated with many who felt alienated by traditional Church teachings.

Pope Francis Death News: Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born Dec. 17, 1936, to Italian immigrants in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the eldest of five children. He was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1969 and led the religious order in Argentina during the country's murderous dictatorship from 1976-83. He became archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and elevated to cardinal in 2001 by St. John Paul II. He was elected the 266th pope on March 13, 2013, on the fifth ballot.

Pope Francis Death News: Condoling the death of Pope Francis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the Catholic priest's affection for the people of India will always be cherished.

"Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world," the Prime Minister said.

From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope," Prime Minister Modi posted on X.

Pope Francis Death News: US Vice President JD Vance, who is in India for a four-day visit, mourned Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday. The US Vice President, before heading to India, met Pope Francis in the Vatican on Easter. 

"I just leaned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I'll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful," Mr Vance wrote in a post on X.

Pope Francis Death News: The death of Pope Francis on Monday sets in motion centuries-old traditions which will culminate in the election by cardinals of a new pontiff -- but with a few changes.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, of Italian immigrant stock. He was ordained a priest in the Jesuit order in 1969.

Pope Francis was the first non-European to lead the Roman Catholic church in nearly 1,300 years. The 88-year-old pontiff died on Easter, the Vatican confirmed.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the news and said, "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis."

Pope Francis changed the face of the modern papacy more than any predecessor by shunning much of its pomp and privilege, but his attempts to make the Catholic Church more inclusive and less judgmental made him an enemy to conservatives nostalgic for a traditional past.

The Vatican said on Monday in a video statement that he had died.

Francis inherited a deeply divided Church after the resignation in 2013 of his predecessor, Benedict XVI. The conservative-progressive gap became a chasm after Francis, from Argentina, was elected the first non-European pope in 1,300 years. 

Pope Francis, the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics, died on Easter today at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed. In his last post on X, the Pope wrote, "I would like us to renew our hope that #peace is possible! From the Holy Sepulchre, the Church of the Resurrection, where this year #Easter is being celebrated by Catholics and Orthodox on the same day, may the light of peace radiate throughout the Holy Land and the entire world."

Pope Francis held a private meeting at the Vatican on Easter morning with US Vice President JD Vance, the Vatican had said in a statement.

Vance, a Catholic who has clashed with the pontiff over the Trump administration's immigration policies, met Francis at his Vatican residence to exchange Easter greetings, the statement said.

"Pope Francis had a brief private encounter ... lasting a few minutes, in order to exchanges good wishes on Easter day," said the statement.

Vance, who has been visiting Italy with his family this weekend, met senior Vatican officials for more formal talks on Saturday. The pope, who is recovering from double pneumonia, did not take part in those discussions.

Pope Francis Death News: Pope Francis reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in an Easter Sunday message read aloud by an aide as the pontiff, still recovering from pneumonia, looked on during a brief appearance on the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.

The 88-year-old pope, limiting his workload on doctors' orders, did not preside over the Vatican's Mass for Easter but appeared at the end of the event for a twice-yearly blessing and message known as the "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world).

Before a five-week hospital stay for pneumonia, which nearly killed him, Francis had been ramping up criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, calling the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave "very serious and shameful" in January.

In the Easter message, the pontiff said the situation in Gaza was "dramatic and deplorable". The pope also called on Palestinian operator group Hamas to release its remaining hostages and condemned what he said was a "worrisome" trend of antisemitism in the world.