Pope Francis has died weeks after he was discharged from the hospital following a lengthy battle with double pneumonia and other health issues. He was 88.

The death of the pope comes a day after he made what would be his final public appearance on Easter Sunday when he greeted thousands of faithful outside of the Vatican. Pope Francis, who became a beloved leader of the Catholic church for his embrace of marginalized people, greeted those gathered in St. Peter’s Square after Easter Mass in his open-air popemobile.

Earlier this year, Pope Francis was hospitalized for weeks after suffering a severe health crisis. After he was discharged last month to recover at his residence at Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican has said as recently as last week that he was improving.

Elected in 2013 as the 266th pope, Pope Francis became the first pope from the Americas and the first born outside of Europe in over a millennia. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrant parents, he chose his name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century Italian friar who renounced his wealth.

Pope’s death follows long hospital stay

An official cause of death was not immediately announced by Vatican officials.

Earlier this year, Pope Francis spent weeks battling a life-threatening case of pneumonia in both his lungs after he was hospitalized for bronchitis.

He was admitted Feb. 14 to a Rome hospital after he canceled several events in early February and had reportedly been struggling to breathe and speak. On Feb. 18 the pope was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia.

His hospitalization included multiple attacks of “acute respiratory insufficiency,” according to daily updates issued by the Vatican.

Physicians performed procedures known as bronchoscopies to clear his air passages after bronchospasms, similar to asthma attacks. While hospitalized, the pope was also diagnosed with a polymicrobial infection and then mild renal insufficiency.

At one point, physicians even considered halting treatment to allow Pope Francis to die peacefully.

Pope Francis’ health struggles meant he was unable to lead the annual Ash Wednesday church service on March 5 that opens the 40-day Christian season of Lent that culminates in Easter. However, the pope reportedly otherwise continued leading the Vatican from the hospital.

Pope Francis released from hospital in March

After 38 days, Francis was released March 23 from the hospital to return to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery.

Before leaving the hospital, the pope appeared on a balcony in a wheelchair, where he offered a crowd of about 3,000 people gathered in the courtyard below a brief blessing and a few words of thanks. Pope Francis has made a number of appearances since then and even met Easter Sunday with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

Francis’ final public appearance came on Easter Sunday, the holiest day in the Christian year. After blessing the throng from the balcony, Francis emerged into the crowd at St. Peter’s Square in his popemobile. The pope sat in a raised chair in the vehicle as thousands cheered “viva il papa,” stopping at several places along the square, much to the delight of the crowd.

Contributing: Cybele Mayes-Osterman, John Bacon, Susan Miller, USA TODAY; Reuters

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]