Pope Francis has died at age 88, the Vatican announced on April 21, 2025.
His death occurred one day after a letter of appearance to thousands gathered in the Plaza de San Pedro for the Mass of the Easter on the outdoor of the Vatican.
Here is more about Pope Francis and what happens now:
Who was Pope Francis?
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936.
He later chose Francis as his name to honor San Francisco de Asís.
Francis was declared Pope on March 13, 2013, becoming the leader of the 1,400 million Roman Catholics in the world after his predecessor, Benedict XVI, became the first Pope to resign in 600 years.
Francis challenged the conventions followed by the pontiffs before him. He pushed for a more transparent Vatican, connected with the groups of common people and committed to other religions.
Christmas duration speech in 2024, Francis denounced the serious humanitarian situation in Gaza, saying: “That there is a high fire, that hostages are released and given to people who use hunger and war.”
He would repeat his Conern message for Gaza in his direction at the Easter Mass, one day before his death. Appearing with letters on the balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro on Sunday, he condemned the “deplorable humanitarian situation” caused by the 18 -month war of Israel in the Palestinian territory.
Francis also gathered an advisory counter from Cardinals and launched a probe to the Vatican Bank, which was a money laundering and corruption battery.
He promised to investigate the abuses of the Church, establishing the first papal commission to investigate that. He also launched a global system for Catholics to inform cases of abuse and cover -ups.
But critics accused the pontiff of opposite reforms that they would have addressed the problem of sexual abuse by clergy.
What was the cause of the death of the Pope?
Pope Francis suffered serious complications in recent weeks after a fight or double pneumonia for which he spent five weeks in the hospital.
He was admitted to the hospital in Rome on February 14 by bronchitis, which was diagnosed with his leg eight days before, but continued to preside over the general public and an outdoor mass.
He was released on March 23, with the expectations that he would resume his duties gradually.
What do we know about the funeral, burial and the next few days?
The Pope’s pass marks the beginning of nine days of grieving called the novelty.
His body is dressed in papal clothes and is placed in the Basilica of San Pedro for public visualization. Hundreds and thousands of people align to present their respects.
This is what usually happens after a Pope dies.
Location and time
The funeral will probably take place at St Peter’s Square, with a service led by the dean of the Cardinals College. The current Dean is Giovanni Battista Re, 91.
Who attends
Dignitaries around the world attend the funeral mass for pontiffs.
Pope John Paul II died in April 2005, his funeral became one of the largest meetings of world leaders in history.
Attendees included four kings, five queens and about 70 presidents and prime ministers.
In total, approximately four million people attended the funeral.
Funeral dough
The daily prayer services and the Réquiem masses will be carried out in Catholic churches worldwide and in the Basilica of San Pedro.
Burial
The burial generally takes place four to six days after death.
The previous potatoes have been buried in three coffins, Cypress, Lead and Elm, placed within the other.
However, Francis wishes to be buried in a coffin made of wood and zinc. Francis’s predecessor was also buried with a paper scroll, or a rogito, who tells his life and papacy again.
The potatoes are traditionally buried in the Vatican Grutas at the lower level of the Basilica of San Pedro. While not all potatoes are buried there, almost 100 are, including Francis’s predecessor, Benedict XVI, who died in 2022.
However, Francis said in an interview in 2023 that Hey to be buried in Santa María Maggiore in the Esquilino in Rome.
Only seven potatoes have been buried, the last one is Clement IX in 1669.
The choice of the new Pope
After the death of a Pope, the Vatican enters a transition period called vacant or interregno headquarters, where power is delivered to the Cardinals College, but important decisions are not made until the papacy is filled.
Some 15-20 days after the death of the Pope, cardinals under 80 years of age become the Sistine Chapel in the city of the Vatican, which is sealed, to choose the new Pontiff through a secret vote.
The vote takes place in up to four rounds a day until a candidate wins two thirds of the vote. If there is no decision after 33 voting rounds, the two main candidates face in a runoff vote.
The ballots are burned, and for each failed vote, the black smoke is released from the Sistine Chapel.
Once the next Pope is successful, the white smoke emerges from the chapel.