Pope Francis death: Final image of church leader in last days as pontiff dies at 88

Pope Francis' final moments in public were captured on camera over the holidays, with the leader of the seen participating in several key events.

The announced , a matter of weeks after he was released from following a long stay due to complications with pneumonia in his one remaining lung. , who had one lung removed in childhood after a respiratory infection, appeared to rally after he was admitted to the in Rome in February, and was discharged nearly a month ago on March 23. and made a landmark public appearance on Easter Sunday.

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The Pope's death comes just a day after he made a final surprise appearance on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, where he would traditionally deliver the Easter Sunday "Urbi et Orbi" - "To the City and to the World". He was not expected to deliver the speech this year, but did appear on the balcony, where he wished onlookers: "Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter."

The greeting had instilled confidence in some that he was recovering, with his voice sounding stronger than in previous appearances, but he still appeared frail while sipping on water provided by an aide as Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli, Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, delivered the speech on his behalf.

The wheelchair-bound leader later provided public blessings from the Popemobile, the white open-backed car that transports the church leader through throngs of his Catholic faithful. Ecstatic members of the public could be heard chanting "viva la papa" - long live the Pope - as he made his rounds.

He stopped at several points to bless babies and small children before being brought back inside that afternoon, with members of the public and their outstretched hands following him as far as they could.

Moments before appearing at the basilica balcony, the Pope was photographed alongside JD Vance, the unpopular US Vice President and self-confessed "baby Catholic" who follows a branch of the faith criticised for its authoritarian leanings, in a private audience. While little was said of the meet, Francis was said to have "exchanged good wishes" with Donald Trump's second in command.

Vance had spent Easter in Rome after he and the US President were spectacularly rebuked by the Pope earlier this year for their anti-migrant policies, with the Pope having made caring for people escaping oppression a cornerstone of his Papal career.

Before then, he had only made a handful of other public appearances, with his ill health forcing him to skip traditional services on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. He was only seen before the key weekend on Holy Thursday, when he met with inmates at Rome's Regina Coeli prison.