India, April 21 -- Pope Francis, the Argentinian pontiff who led the Roman Catholic Church for nearly 12 years, has died. He was 88.

"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 on Monday. "At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father."

Last month, the pope was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on February 14 after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened.

The Catholic Church will now begin the process of electing a new leader. The election of a pope follows a centuries-old tradition, and is guided by strict rules and holds deep religious significance.

The College of Ca...