Pope Francis, the 266th pope, passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 due to a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible cardiac arrest. He had been hospitalized earlier that year for double pneumonia and had underlying health conditions, including hypertension and type 2 diabetes.
His funeral is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will lead the Mass of Requiem, and the ceremony will include the Ultima commendatio and Valedictio rites . Following the funeral, Pope Francis will be interred at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, as per his wishes.
In the days leading up to the funeral, Pope Francis’s body is lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, where thousands of mourners have come to pay their respects. The basilica has been kept open overnight to accommodate the crowds, and public viewing will continue until Friday evening.
The passing of Pope Francis marks the beginning of a papal interregnum, and a conclave will soon convene to elect his successor. The Vatican has announced that the conclave is expected to begin between May 6 and 12, 2025. For more information and updates, please refer to the official Vatican News website.
