Pope Francis dies at age of 88, Vatican announces

The Vatican says the pontiff died at 7.35am on Monday morning

Pope Francis greets school children after arriving at the airport in Knock in County Mayo, as part of his visit to Ireland. File photo

Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican has confirmed.

"Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican's TV channel this morning.