Pope Francis has died aged 88 after a bout of pneumonia that left him in hospital for weeks earlier this year.

The pontiff, who has been the head of the Catholic Church since 2013, died at 7.35am on Easter Monday, the Vatican announced in a video message.

His death came a day after his first prolonged public appearance since being discharged on March 23 from a 38-day hospital stay.

On Sunday, he met with JD Vance, the US vice-president, addressed crowds from the balcony in St Peter’s Square and blessed worshippers from his open-topped popemobile.

The Pope met Mr Vance in one of the receptions of the Vatican’s Domus Sanctae Marthae, the guest house where Francis had been living.