Pope Francis has died of a stroke that caused a coma and "irreversible" heart failure, the Vatican has announced.

The 88-year-old pontiff died on Monday morning, a month after being discharged from a five-week hospital stay with double pneumonia.

Pope Francis came close to death twice earlier this year while suffering from bilateral pneumonia. He spent 38 days in hospital before being released on March 23.

On Sunday (20.04) he wished the crowds in St Peter's Square "Happy Easter" while waving his hand, and in his traditional benediction "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the city and the world") he called for freedom of thought and tolerance. | BGNES, AFP