Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics, has died at age 88, the Vatican confirmed on Monday. The pontiff passed away at his residence in Vatican City following an extended period of illness that included recent hospitalization.

In an official statement, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis will be buried at Rome's Saint Mary Major Cemetery, honoring his personal request. This marks the first time in over a century that a pope will be laid to rest outside Vatican City grounds.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis became Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 before being elected pope on March 13, 2013. He assumed leadership of the Catholic Church following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, becoming the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas.

During his 12-year papacy, Francis was known for his emphasis on mercy, environmental stewardship, and outreach to marginalized communities. He introduced significant reforms to Vatican operations and took positions on global issues, including climate change, economic inequality, and migration.

The Vatican is expected to release further details about funeral arrangements and the subsequent conclave to elect his successor in the coming days.

Church officials worldwide have begun issuing statements honoring Pope Francis' legacy and ministry as Catholics prepare for a period of transition in church leadership.

PM Shehbaz Sharif expresses deep condolences to the Vatican

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed deep condolences to the Vatican and the Christian community worldwide. In his message from Islamabad, the Prime Minister described Pope Francis's death as "an irreplaceable loss for the entire world, especially the Christian community."

The Prime Minister praised Pope Francis's leadership, noting that "under his guidance, the Catholic Church promoted a message of love, tolerance, and mutual respect." He highlighted the Pope's role as "a standard-bearer of interfaith harmony, peace, and humanity," adding that his conduct served as "a beacon for followers of all religions."

Sharif specifically mentioned Pope Francis's final message regarding Gaza, stating, "Pope Francis's last message was full of love for peace and humanity, as he called for an end to the war in Gaza and the violation of human rights during Easter." The Prime Minister added that the Pope "provided guidance to billions of people for goodness, peace, and safety."