Pope Francis has died

Pope Francis has died at his residence in the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican at the age of 88, Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced.

The day before, on Easter Sunday, the pontiff appeared on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica and blessed the faithful. In February and March he spent more than five weeks in hospital with double pneumonia.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the first pope from Latin America and the first Jesuit on the throne of St Peter. He had led the Catholic Church since 2013.

Francis visited Armenia in 2016 and at the time described the events of 1915 as genocide. Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II expressed deep condolences.