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Newly elected Pope Francis appears on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on March 13, 2013. Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images file Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday aged 88 Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God." Source Additional Resources |
What Happens Next? Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, after 12 years as spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. His death has triggered a mourning period which involves centuries-old rites. It has also set into motion the process for electing a new pontiff. A conclave can be expected to be held between 15 and 20 days after Francis's death. The Vatican said on Easter Monday, hours after announcing his death, that Francis's body would be laid in a coffin in a chapel at his Saint Martha residence at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT). The Pope's camerlengo or chamberlain, currently Irish-American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, would preside over those rites, the Vatican said. After performing the duties of sealing the Pope's personal residence in the Vatican's Saint Martha guesthouse and destroying the Pope's ring and lead seal to prevent further use, Farrell and a team of three assisting cardinals will then set out the mourning schedule for Pope Francis - including the date of the funeral and burial. The period of mourning rites typically lasts nine days, and church rules say those events should begin between the fourth and sixth day after the Pope's death. Farrell and his team will also decide when the Pope's body will be moved into St Peter's Basilica before burial so the public can pay their respects. On Monday afternoon, the Vatican said this transfer could happen as early as Wednesday morning but that cardinals would decide on Tuesday. His funeral, according to Church custom, should typically be held within four to six days after his death, with the funeral Mass taking place in St Peter's Square. He will be the first Pope in more than a century not to be buried in the Vatican, in the crypt of St Peter's Basilica – opting instead to be laid to rest in Rome's Basilica of St Mary Major, near his favourite icon of the Madonna. Francis also requested to be buried in a simple wooden casket – unlike his predecessors who were buried in the traditional three nesting coffins made of cypress, lead and oak. Resources |
The Church's Rites After the Pope Dies The death of a pope starts a centuries-old ritual involving sacred oaths by the cardinals electing a successor, the piercing of ballots with a needle and thread after they're counted, and then burning them to produce either the white or black smoke to signal if there's a new leader for the world's 1.3 billion Catholics. After the pope has died, the camerlengo, or chamberlain, must certify the death and seal the papal apartment. He runs administrative and financial duties of the Holy See until a new pope takes over. The death of a pope begins a precise sequence of events that include the confirmation of death in the pontiff's home, the transfer of the coffin to St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing, a funeral Mass and burial. Interment must take place between the fourth and sixth day after his death. After the funeral, there are nine days of official mourning, known as the “novendiali.” During this period, the cardinals arrive in Rome. To give everyone time to assemble, the conclave must begin 15-20 days after the “sede vacante” is declared, although it can start sooner if the cardinals agree. A first ballot is held in the Sistine Chapel on the afternoon after the initial Mass. If no pope is elected, over the ensuing days two ballots are held each morning and two each afternoon. If no one gets the needed two-thirds of votes, the ballots are pierced with a needle and thread, which is then knotted and placed on a tray, and another round of voting is prepared. After the ballots are pierced, they are burned in a cylindrical stove at the end of the voting session. Black smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney means no decision; white smoke signals the cardinals have chosen a pope and that he has accepted. The new pope is introduced from the loggia overlooking St. Peter’s Square with the words, “Habemus Papam!” (“We have a pope!”) and his chosen papal name. The new pope then emerges and gives his first blessing. Resources |
Pope Francis Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the first pope from the Western Hemisphere and the first from the Jesuit order. He was elected pope on March 13, 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Known for his humility and advocacy for the poor, Pope Francis made significant contributions to the Catholic Church, including his encyclical Laudato si' on environmental stewardship. Resources |
The Life of Pope Francis in Photos |
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The Role of Pope The pope is the successor of Saint Peter, the apostle appointed by Jesus Christ as the head of His Church. As the Bishop of Rome, the pope holds a unique and supreme authority in matters of faith and morals, serving as the Vicar of Christ on earth. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the pope provides infallible teachings when speaking ex cathedra on doctrines of faith and morals. The pope's role encompasses spiritual leadership, pastoral care, and global representation of the Catholic Church. Residing in Vatican City, the pope shepherds the universal Church, promoting unity, peace, and the teachings of Christ to all corners of the world. Resources |
How Can We Get Involved? Join Catholics around the world in lifting up prayers for the guidance of the electors, the soul of Pope Francis, and the purity of the new Pope. |
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