On the morning of April 21, 2025—Easter Monday—Pope Francis passed away at 7:35 AM in his residence at the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican. He was 88 years old. The cause of death was a stroke followed by irreversible cardiac arrest.
Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell officially announced the Pope’s death, paying tribute to a life spent in faithful service to God and the Church. The Pope’s body is currently lying in repose in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta and will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on April 23 for the faithful to pay their respects.
The funeral is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 AM in St. Peter’s Square and will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. At the Pope’s request, he will be laid to rest in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, reflecting his deep devotion to the Virgin Mary.
True to his humble nature, Pope Francis chose a simple funeral ceremony, deviating from traditional papal customs. He requested a single wooden casket lined with zinc, forgoing the traditional triple coffin. He also asked that his body be visible and that no ornate catafalque be used during the funeral rites.
Pope Francis began his pontificate on March 13, 2013, as the first Jesuit and first Latin American pope. Over the years, he championed a Church rooted in mercy, simplicity, and outreach to the marginalized. He made historic visits around the world and advocated passionately for peace, the environment, and the rights of migrants and the poor.
His final public message, delivered on Easter Sunday, called on humanity to rediscover hope, trust, and compassion—especially toward those who are different or on the margins of society.
A conclave to elect the next pope is expected to take place between May 5 and 10.
Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy of humility, openness, and reform. His vision for a more inclusive and compassionate Church has left an indelible mark on Catholicism and the world.
