Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.
At 9:45 a.m., Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, formally announced the Pope’s passing from Casa Santa Marta with these words:
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially toward the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
Later on Monday, Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, told journalists that the late Pope’s body is expected to be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning, allowing the faithful to pay their respects.
“The translation of the Holy Father’s mortal remains to the Vatican Basilica, for the veneration of all the faithful, may take place on the morning of Wednesday, April 23, 2025, according to the arrangements that will be finalized and communicated after the first General Congregation of the Cardinals,” Bruni said.
The rite for certifying the death and placing the Pope’s body in a coffin took place Monday evening at 8:00 p.m. in the chapel on the ground floor of Casa Santa Marta.
During the ceremony, the official declaration of death was read aloud and validated by Cardinal Farrell. The ceremony lasted just under an hour. Seals were also placed on the papal apartments — both on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace and the second floor of Casa Santa Marta, where the Pope had resided.
Mr. Bruni also noted that, as of Monday evening, Pope Francis’ closest collaborators had begun to pay their respects to him. The first General Congregation of Cardinals is set to take place Tuesday morning, during which the date of the funeral may be decided.
A History of Health Challenges
Pope Francis was hospitalized on February 14, 2025, at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital after battling bronchitis for several days. His condition worsened, and he was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia on February 18. After 38 days in hospital, he returned to Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery.
This was not his first experience with serious respiratory illness. In 1957, in his early twenties, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in Argentina to remove part of his lung due to a severe infection. In his later years, he continued to face respiratory issues, including the cancellation of a planned trip to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation.
Planning the Final Rites
In April 2024, Pope Francis approved a revised edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, which will guide his upcoming funeral Mass. The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis includes changes in how the Pope’s body is handled after death: the ascertainment of death now occurs in a chapel rather than in the room of death, and the body is placed in the coffin immediately.
Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, confirmed that Pope Francis had requested a simplified funeral focused on expressing the Church’s faith in the Risen Christ.
“The renewed rite,” Archbishop Ravelli explained, “emphasizes that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ, not of a worldly figure of power.”
