The Vatican has revealed the cause of death of Pope Francis as stroke and heart failure. Officials confirmed earlier His Holiness was pronounced dead at 7.35am this morning, less than 24 hours after he summoned the strength to appear before 35,000 followers on Easter Sunday.

The 88-year-old pontiff had been battling poor health since he was admitted to Gemelli hospital in Rome on February 14, where he was diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection, pneumonia in both lungs, and mild kidney failure. However, Pope Francis was discharged from hospital on March 25 and continued with a scaled-back schedule of public engagements, including meeting King Charles and Queen Camilla on April 9 when he wished them a happy 20th wedding anniversary.

At noon on Easter Sunday the leader of the Catholic church showed extraordinary strength to appear before thousands of well-wishers gathered in St Peter's Square at the Vatican in Rome.

Now Vatican officials have revealed the pontiff died from a cerebral stroke and subsequent heart failure shortly after he woke the next day. Italian newspaper Corriere della Serra reports doctors said Pope Francis stirred at 6am and fell ill around 7am before he passed away around 35 minutes later.

Pope Francis was history’s first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change.

Francis spent 38 days in Gemelli hospital after being admitted on Valentine's Day. It was the longest hospitalisation of his 12-year papacy. His Holiness had suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man.

The first formal Vatican service for Pope Francis will take place at 8pm local time. The liturgical ritual for Francis will mark the confirmation of the pope’s death and the placement of the body in the coffin.

Those invited to attend the ceremony, which will take place in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where Pope Francis lived, are the dean of the College of Cardinals, any relatives of the pope, the director and vice director of the Vatican’s health department.

The Vatican released the announcement from Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the master of liturgical ceremonies.

It said the presiding prelate, Cardinal Joseph Farrell, has taken over the administration of the Holy See and will remain in charge until a new pope is elected.

According to the new rites and rituals Pope Francis approved last year, the body will remain in the chapel for a few days before being brought for public viewing in St Peter’s Basilica.

After that, there will be the funeral and conclave to elect a new pope.