Thousands of Catholics gathered together in prayer for the Holy Father, who passed away at age 88 due to complications from a medical crisis earlier in the spring.

Pope Francis rosary held at Santa Maria Maggiore after his death POPE Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic church, has died aged 88 after fighting for his life in a "complex" health battle. The pontiff had been hospitalised for weeks at the Gemelli hospital in Rome after suffering a bout of bronchitis and double pneumonia.

The papal basilica is where the late pontiff will be buried after his funeral on Saturday. View on euronews