Tributes have been paid to Pope Francis, who has died aged 88, the Vatican have confirmed.
Pope Francis, who was the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, had been recovering following a serious bout of double pneumonia. His death was confirmed via a video statement from the Vatican.
Speaking on the Vatican's TV channel, Cardinal Kevin Farrell said this.
"Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis", he announced. "At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father".
Pope Francis, whose full name was Jorge Mario Borgoglio, was elected pope on 13 March 2013, a decision which surprised many church watchers, who saw him as an outsider.
Following his death, many political figures have paid tribute to Pope Francis, including President Michael D Higgins, and Taoiseach Micheal Martin.
In his tribute, Mr Higgins said that Pope Francis "sought to show in the most striking and moving of ways, the extraordinary importance of the spiritual as a powerful source of global ethics in the challenges of contemporary life".
He added: "These issues I had the privilege of discussing at length with Pope Francis across our five meetings over the course of his Papacy".
"During his visit to Ireland, Pope Francis spoke of the scandal of child abuse, including in the Church, and its consequences for victims and families. On such matters, and on others such as attitudes towards women and those of the LGBTQ+ community within the Church, Pope Francis sought to play a positive role," the President added.
"I recall at the end of our meetings he would say as to his work on such issues, 'it is very difficult', as he asked for and offered prayers. It is important that the steps he took are built upon as they constitute a source of hope in the years to come".
Elsewhere, Taoiseach Michael Martin said that the Pope's legacy is "his message of peace, reconciliation, and solidarity that lives in the hearts of those he inspired".
The Taoiseach said that his "long and distinguished papacy was marked by his unwavering commitment to the principles of compassion, peace, and human dignity".
"He spoke out for the poor, the marginalised, and the oppressed. His solidarity with refugees, his calls for climate action, and his insistence on global peace and equality set him apart as a champion of justice in the modern world".
"On behalf of the Government and the people of Ireland, I offer my heartfelt sympathies and my deepest condolences to all who mourn him, to His Eminence Cardinal Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, to his family and friends and to the Catholic community worldwide that has lost an exceptional leader".
Mr Martin also said that Pope Francis has a "special place in the hearts of the Irish people".
"During his visit to Ireland in August 2018 for the World Meeting of Families he was welcomed with a warmth and enthusiasm that spoke volumes about the respect and affection in which he was held by Irish people," he added.
"Many will also remember Pope Francis' expression of pain and shame about historic child abuse in the Catholic Church and his outrage about the failure of Church authorities to adequately address these appalling crimes".
