The Vatican has released the first photos that show Pope Francis lying in state after the head of the Catholic church died on Easter Monday.

Pope Francis, a voice for the poor who overcame fierce resistance to reshape the Catholic Church, has died on Easter Monday, at the age of 88, the Vatican has announced.

Rome — Pope Francis, who challenged deeply rooted norms and made it his mission to change the perception of the Catholic Church around the world, has died at the age of 88. The Vatican said Francis died just after 7:30 a.m. local time on Monday, a day after Easter.