The head of the Catholic church, Pope Francis has passed away.

In a statement, the Vatican said the pope “died on Easter Monday at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta”.

He was 88 years of age.

On Easter Sunday, the pope was pictured greeting crowds from the “loggia” of St Peter’s Basilica after celebrating mass with the faithful.

Pope Francis has been battling bilateral pneumonia and was discharged from hospital on March 23.