Watch ITV News at Ten live from the Vatican, following the announcement that Pope Francis has died aged 88.
The Vatican said Francis died of a cerebral stroke that put him into a coma and led to irreversible heart failure.
In a statement on Monday morning, Cardinal Kevin Farrell said : "At 7:35 this morning (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church."
The Pope was last seen in public on Easter Sunday, where he blessed thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square.
His death now starts a sequence of events which will see his coffin taken to the St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing followed by a funeral mass.
In his final will, Francis confirmed he will be buried in St. Mary Major Basilica, outside the Vatican, in a simple underground tomb with only “Franciscus” written on it.
His burial will be followed by nine days of mourning, during which cardinals will arrive in Rome to elect the next pope in a process known as a conclave.
In February, the Pope was admitted to hospital for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia and stayed there for 38 days.
Francis had long battled health problems; he had part of one lung removed as a young man and suffered long bouts of acute bronchitis in winter.
Within hours of the announcement of his death, crowds gathered in the Vatican to pay tribute to the Pope as cathedrals around the world announced special services to celebrate his life.
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