00:00Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican said in a video statement today.
00:09He was 88 years old and had recently survived a serious bout of double pneumonia.
00:15Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope on March 13, 2013, surprising many church watchers who had seen the Argentine cleric known for his concern for the poor as an outsider.
00:27His passing ends an often turbulent reign, marked by division and tension as he was elected with a clear mandate to restore order after inheriting a church under fire over a child sex abuse scandal and Vatican infighting.
00:41While he struggled with internal dissent, Francis became a global superstar, drawing huge crowds on his many foreign travels as he tirelessly promoted interfaith dialogue and peace.
00:52Pope Francis appointed nearly 80% of the cardinal electors who will choose the next pope, increasing the possibility that his successor will continue his progressive policies despite strong pushback from traditionalists.
