Bangladesh, April 21 -- Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and a transformative figure in modern religious history, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced on April 21. His passing marks the end of a 12-year papacy that challenged traditions, broke barriers, and sought to bring the Catholic Church closer to the worlds most marginalized.

The Vatican confirmed that the pontiff passed away at 7:35 a.m. local time. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo of the Vatican, issued a solemn statement: “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church.”

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergogl...