Pope Francis died after stroke led to heart failure, Vatican confirms

Pope Francis has been remembered as someone full of compassion, mercy and “irrepressible hope” as Catholics came together to mourn the death of a pontiff hailed by world leaders.

Francis, who died following a stroke aged 88 on Easter Monday just a day after greeting crowds in Vatican City, drew tributes for his strong advocacy for the poor and marginalised.

Francis died after a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, the Vatican has confirmed.

He had resumed some official duties earlier this month during his recovery from double pneumonia.

The Pope made his first public appearance on April 6 since becoming ill, when he appeared in St Peter’s Square in a wheelchair during a special jubilee mass for the sick following his discharge from hospital two weeks previously.

The Vatican said Francis has decreed in his will that he will be buried in St Mary Major Basilica in a simple underground tomb with only “Franciscus” written on it.

There are currently five cardinals across the UK and Ireland, although only three – Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe and Rome-based Cardinal Arthur Roche – who are younger than 80 and therefore of voting age.