The leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of Rome, and the sovereign of the Vatican City State, Pope Francis, has died aged 88.
He made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. The people congregated below and watching at home, believed him to be recovered from his recent bout of double pneumonia. However, his last benediction of “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) uttered on Easter Sunday was to be his last.
Pope Francis was renowned as a liberal leader and reformer in the Catholic Church. He made headlines for allowing the blessing of same-sex couples, appointing women to high-ranking positions within the Vatican, pushing for action on climate change, and being more outspoken than any of his predecessors about clergy abuse.
Who was Pope Francis?
Pope Francis has been the head of the Roman Catholic Church since March 13, 2013. He was the 266th pope.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, before he was a priest, he trained as a chemical technician, worked as a janitor and even as a bouncer at one point.
After a serious and very nearly fatal illness in his early 20s, he was called to religious life and entered the seminary. He joined the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1958. Jorge became a novice and later a philosophy teacher before being ordained a priest in 1969.
When did Pope Francis become pope?
Pope Francis became pope following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI — the first papal resignation in nearly 600 years.
His papacy had many firsts. He was the first Pope elected from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope, the first pope to take the name Francis, and the first non-European pope in over 1200 years. The last pope elected outside of Europe was Pope Gregory III in AD 731, who was born in Syria.
Before becoming Pope Francis, he served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. During his papacy, he tackled difficult issues within the Church, including sexual abuse scandals and curial reform, often facing resistance from more conservative factions.
His efforts marked a significant shift in the Church’s tone to be more inclusive, particularly regarding marginalised communities.
When did the Pope die?
Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, following a prolonged and severe respiratory illness. He reportedly had a heart attack and stroke on Easter Monday morning.
He had been hospitalised on February 14, 2025, at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital due to breathing difficulties that developed into double pneumonia.
His condition was further complicated by chronic lung damage from a partial lung removal in his youth and early-stage kidney failure.
Despite initial signs of improvement, including his final public appearance on Easter Sunday, April 20, he died the next morning.
What happens now?
Now, the Church will enter a period of mourning for nine days, called the novemdiales. The Vatican flags will fly at half mast, and a daily requiem mass will be held in his honour.
His body is currently resting in the chapel of Casa Santa Martain. On Wednesday afternoon (local time), 23 April, 2025, he will be carried to St Peter’s Basilica to where his body will lie in state to allow the public and Church officials to pay their respects. St Peter’s Basilica will be open for those who wish to pay their respects from Wednesday, 11 am until midnight (local time), on Thursday from 7 am until midnight (local time), and on Friday from 7 am until 7 pm.
Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will happen on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 10.00 am local time (6 pm AEST) out in the open in St. Peter’s Square. The Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, will preside over the funeral.
Unlike previous popes before him, Pope Francis will not be laid to rest in the Vatican Grottoes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. However, in his final testament, His Holiness asked to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, located outside the Vatican. He will be the first pope in over a century to be buried outside the city’s walls.
He has also requested that his tomb should be “simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.”
Who will attend Pope Francis’s funeral?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has requested that Governor-General Sam Mostyn attend as the representative for Australia following her attendance at ANZAC Day services in Gallipoli.
Numerous European leaders will be attending. Prince William will be attending on behalf of his father, King Charles, along with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. President of Ireland Michael D Higgins will be attending with his wife Sabina. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also be in attendance.
The President of Pope Francis’s home country, Argentina, Javier Milei, will be in attendance. Also attending will be US President Donald Trump, with his wife, Melania.
In addition to Prince William, other royals in attendance will be Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg; the Danish and Swedish royal families are also expected to attend.
How is a new pope elected?
Anyone who has read Dan Brown, watched Conclave, or was around during Pope Francis’s election will have some insight into the process. It is a prolonged one.
You can read about the papal conclave, including prospective new popes, here.
A pope is elected through a papal conclave. It is a centuries-old tradition and is held in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican. It takes place within a month of the previous pope’s passing or resignation.
Now that His Holiness has passed away, the cardinals, among them Australia’s Mykola Bychok, will be summoned to Rome to begin the conclave.
