Pope Francis dies aged 88, Vatican camerlengo announces in video statement

Breaking news: In a shocking development for the world, Pope Francis died Monday morning, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced.

“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,″ Farrell said in the announcement.

Pope Francis gives up long fight against respiratory ailments

After over five weeks in a Rome hospital undergoing treatment for respiratory ailments and pneumonia, Pope Francis was discharged last month but with the condition that he will need at least two months of rest and time before his voice becomes normal.

Minutes before his discharge, the 88-year-old Pope appeared at a window at the Gemelli hospital to give a blessing to the assembled faithful – in his first public appearance since he was admitted on February 14, media reports said.

Doctors said he will need at least two months of rest at the Vatican. During the past five weeks, he presented “two very critical episodes” where his “life was in danger”, Dr Sergio Alfieri, the head of the Gemelli Hospital medical team that has been treating the Pope for an acute respiratory tract infection and bilateral pneumonia, said, as per the Vatican News. However, he said that the pontiff was never intubated and always remained alert and oriented.

According to the doctors, the Pope was not fully healed, but no longer has pneumonia and is now stable. Dr Alfieri said that patients with double pneumonia lose their voice a little and “especially in the elderly, it will take time for your voice to return to normal”, the BBC reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

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