Groundbreaking head of Catholic church, Pope Francis, dies at 88

Vatican says first Latin American pontiff died of stroke and heart failure

- Angela Giuffrida Vatican City Harriet Sherwood

Pope Francis died of a stroke and subsequent heart failure, the Vatican said in a statement yesterday that revealed he had requested to be buried in a simple, unadorned tomb.

The 88-year-old pope, revered by millions of Catholics around the world, died at 7.35am in his apartment at Casa Santa Marta yesterday. His cause of death was confirmed through an ECG test, the Vatican said.

Francis, who twice almost died when hospitalised with severe pneumonia in February, also suffered from multiple bronchiectasis, arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

The pope confirmed in his will that he wished to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore church in Rome's Esquilino neighbourhood, breaking with longstanding Vatican tradition. He would pray at the basilica before and after trips overseas, and last visited on 12 April.

The text of his will specified that he wanted to be buried "in the ground, without particular decoration" but with the inscription of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.

Popes are usually buried with much fanfare in the grottoes beneath St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, but Francis - loved by many Catholics for his humility - simplified rites for papal funerals last year.

In the text of the will, the pontiff said: "The cost of preparing the burial will be covered by a sum provided by a benefactor, which I have arranged to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. I have given the necessary instructions regarding this to Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Basilica." His body was transferred into a coffin in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta last night and will be taken to St Peter's basilica tomorrow for members of the public to pay respects.