Vatican City/IBNS, April 21 -- Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City state, died at the age of 88 on Monday.

Pope Francis died at his residence after prolonged illness, the Vatican has announced.

The pontiff, who was the first Latin-American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, became the Pope in 2013.

He had suffered ailments on multiple occasions over the last 12 years.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from India Blooms....