Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, has reportedly passed away, according to reports from the Vatican. He served as the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2013 until his death in 2025. The fact that he was the first pope of Latin American heritage, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, the first from the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order), and the first to be born or raised outside of Europe since Gregory III, who was Syrian in the eighth century, makes him noteworthy.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, in his residence at the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican. At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced his passing, stating, “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 life was devoted to serving the Lord and His Church. He taught us to embrace the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, particularly for the poorest and most marginalized among us.”
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.” Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, informed journalists that the Pope’s body may be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning for public veneration.
Read Also
Congo And Rwanda Leaders Call For Ceasefire In Eastern Congo
US President Trump To Eliminate UN Peacekeeping Funding
Declaration of Death
The rite of certification of death and placement in the coffin took place on Monday evening in the chapel of the Pope’s residence. During the ceremony, the declaration of death was read aloud and validated by Cardinal Farrell. Seals were placed on the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace and on the apartment in the Casa Santa Marta, where Pope Francis lived. The first General Congregation of Cardinals will take place on Tuesday morning, during which a date for the funeral may be determined.
Pope Francis had been admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on February 14, 2025, after suffering from bronchitis. He was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia on February 18 and returned to his Vatican residence after 38 days in the hospital.
Earlier Respiratory Infection & Surgery
In his early 20s, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in Argentina to remove a portion of his lung due to a severe respiratory infection. He frequently suffered from respiratory illnesses throughout his life. In April 2024, Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, which will guide the funeral Mass. The new edition introduces changes, including the ascertainment of death taking place in the chapel, and the body being immediately placed inside the coffin.
Archbishop Diego Ravelli stated that the Pope had requested simplified funeral rites focused on expressing the Church’s faith in the Risen Body of Christ, emphasizing the funeral is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ, not of a powerful person.
Burial Arrangements
According to Vatican News, the body of the late Pope Francis will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday to lie in state until his funeral on Saturday morning. The Holy See Press Office announced that Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 10:00 AM in St. Peter’s Square. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside at the Mass, concelebrated by Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and priests from around the world.
The Eucharistic celebration will conclude with the Ultima commendatio and the Valedictio, marking the beginning of the Novemdiales, or nine days of mourning and Masses for the repose of Pope Francis’ soul. The late Pope’s body will then be taken into St. Peter’s Basilica and subsequently to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for entombment. On Wednesday, the coffin containing Pope Francis’ body will be carried from the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of translation on April 23, beginning at 9:00 AM with a moment of prayer. The procession will pass through Santa Marta Square and the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs before entering St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican Basilica. At the Altar of the Confession, the Cardinal Camerlengo will preside over the Liturgy of the Word, after which public visits to the body of the Roman Pontiff will commence.
Who Could Succeed Pope Francis
As the Catholic Church prepares for the election of a new Pope, speculation is mounting regarding potential candidates to succeed Francis.
Predicting the outcome of the highly secretive papal conclave is notoriously difficult. However, several names are currently being discussed as likely contenders:
- Pietro Parolin, 70 years, and from Italy
- Luis Antonio Tagle, 67years, and from the Philippines
- Peter Turkson, 76 years, from Ghana
- Péter Erdő, 72 years, from Hungary
- Matteo Zuppi, 69 years, from Italy
- José Tolentino Calaça de Mendonça, 59 years, from Portugal
- Mario Grech, 68 years, from Malta
- Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 60 years, from Italy
- Robert Sarah, 79 years, from Guinea
