Pope Francis attended an Easter service yesterday (20 April) where he addressed the crowd
The late Pope Francis was a humanitarian right until the end.
It was a announced today that the Pope had passed away aged 88, with the news coming just one day after his last public appearance, where he made a final plea to the gathered crowds just hours before his death.
It followed weeks of ill health after he was admitted to hospital back in February for double pneumonia, where he remained for five weeks until being discharged on 23 March.
Briefly appearing at the Vatican’s Easter Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter Sunday, the 88-year-old had put together a special message for his congregation titled ‘Urbi et Orbi’, which translates to ‘to the city and the world.’
It harboured the last plea he’d ever make before passing away on Easter Monday (21 April).
(Stefano Spaziani/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Read aloud by his aide Archbishop Diego Ravelli, who stands as the master of pontifical liturgical celebrations, his message repeated the Pope’s Gaza ceasefire request after previously criticising Israel’s military campaign back in January.
“The growing climate of anti-Semitism throughout the world is worrisome,” it began.
“Yet at the same time I think of the people of Gaza, and its Christian community in particular, where the terrible conflict continues to cause death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation.
“I express my closeness to the sufferings of all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people. I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace.”Play
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Argentinian leaves behind a 12-year legacy as the global figurehead of the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced his death in a statement on Easter Monday: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church.”
As for what happens next, nine days of mourning (known as the ‘Novendiale’) are set to be observed by Catholics, and during this period the Pope’s body will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days ahead of the funeral. Daily prayer services and masses will be held.
While Papal funerals are typically ritual filled affairs, Pope Francis had previously approved of stripping back the process last year, confirming his plans for a stripped back funeral and burial outside of the Vatican.
He will be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome, Italy.Featured Image Credit: Stefano Spaziani/Europa Press via Getty Images
Topics: World News, Pope Francis
Dan Seddon
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Updated 12:14 21 Apr 2025 GMT+1Published 10:00 21 Apr 2025 GMT+1
What happens next after Pope Francis dies as nine days of mourning triggered
Anyone who watched Ralph Fiennes thriller Conclave will be familiar with this process
Here is what you can expect to happen in next days and weeks following the death of Pope Francis.
The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis had passed away at 7:35am on Easter Monday (21 April).
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in a statement.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church.”
The Pope’s death comes just a day after he delivered an Easter message to worshippers from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica and following months of concerns about the state of his health.
He was admitted to hospital in February for double pneumonia, where he remained for five weeks until being discharged on 23 March.
So what happens next?
Pope Francis seen on Easter Sunday (Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)
What happens when a pope dies?
Following the announcement of a Pope’s death nine days of mourning, known as the Novendiale, will be observed by Catholics worldwide.
During this period the body of Pope Francis will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days before his funeral. During this time, daily prayer services and masses will be held.
What happens at a Papal funeral?
While Papal funerals are typically ritual filled affairs, Pope Francis had previously approved of stripping back the process last year, confirming his plans for a stripped back funeral and burial outside of the Vatican.
He will be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome, Italy.
How is a new pope elected?
Anyone who watched Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow in 2024 film Conclave will be aware that the process of electing a new pope is a pretty complex one.
In the following weeks the death of a pope, the Catholic College of Cardinals will convene to take part in an ancient elect a successor to lead the Catholic Church and its 1.4 billion followers.
The Vatican will now enter a period of mourning ahead of Pope Francis’ funeral and the election of his successor (Getty Stock Images)
Cardinals will then take part in a conclave, meaning private meeting or assembly, to elect a new pope. Only cardinals aged 80 and under are eligible to vote in the conclave and their numbers are limited to 120.
The vote will see 120 cardinals cast their ballot by writing the name of their chosen candidate on a ballot and placing it on the top alter inside a locked Sistine Chapel. A candidate must receive a total of two thirds of the vote in order to be elected. If no candidate is able to receive two thirds of the ballot, cardinals will vote again.
These votes can take place up to four times each day.
Once the ballots have been counted, they are burned in a stove alongside a mix of chemicals to produce either white or black smoke.
The smoke then exits the chapel through a chimney and indicates whether or not a new pope has been elected.
The main balcony at St. Peter’s Basilica (FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)
White smoke means a successor has been chosen, while black smoke means a majority had not been reached.
Likely candidates include Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Peter Erdö, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi and Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke.
After a successor is elected, he will be asked whether or not he wants to accept the nomination before a representative heads out to the main balcony of the St. Peter’s Basilica and announces ‘Habemus papam’ which translates to ‘We have a pope’.
The chosen successor will then confirm his papal name before appearing on the balcony to deliver his first speech to worshippers.