VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis probably expected that he would face opposition to his reform agenda after Catholics for two generations grew used to more conservative, doctrine-minded pontiffs.

Pope Francis died Monday morning in the Vatican City, less than a day after greeting a huge Easter Sunday gathering of Catholics in St. Peter's Square and issuing a plea for world peace. He was 88.

One of the most long-lasting impacts of Pope Francis' pontificate may be his appointment of more women than ever before to top Vatican positions.