India, April 21 -- Pope Francis died on Monday at the age of 88 after a prolonged health battle. The Catholic leader was the first Latin American pontiff and was hailed for showing deep concern for the poor and marginalised sections of society. As his views often pushed the Church's boundaries, he became a subject of controversy and criticism many times during his 12 years of service. Here's a look at some of his most contentious moments:

In 2013, the late Pope got candid about his stance on gay priests, saying, "Who am I to judge?" their sexual orientation, according to Associated Press. He made the controversial remarks during an interview aboard his plane upon returning from his first papal trip to celebrate World Youth Day in Brazil....