China sends condolences over death of pope

China expressed condolences on Tuesday over the death of Pope Francis, pledging to work with the Vatican to promote the continuous improvement of bilateral relations.

Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican said in a statement.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on Dec 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was elected to lead the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013, making him the first pontiff from Latin America.