The Vatican announced early Monday that Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, died at his residence at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta after a long battle with respiratory illnesses.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced:
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 in favor of 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.”
Pope Francis made a brief appearance at St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, but he did not lead Mass. He also met briefly with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
Vance and the pope exchanged Easter greetings, and the pontiff presented the vice president with chocolate Easter eggs for his children, a Vatican tie, and rosaries.
“I know you have not been feeling great but it’s good to see you in better health,” Vance reportedly told the pope. “Thank you for seeing me.”
Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on Feb. 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was 88 years old. He was elevated to the position of pope in 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI resigned, citing health issues. Francis was the 266th pope in the church’s history and the first from the Americas. He was also the first Jesuit pope in the church’s history.
He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, whom he described as “the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation.”
“How I would like a church that is poor and that is for the poor,” he told reporters shortly after his election.
According to a biography on the Vatican website,
He graduated as a chemical technician and then chose the path of the priesthood, entering the Diocesan Seminary of Villa Devoto. On 11 March 1958 he entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus. He completed his studies of the humanities in Chile and returned to Argentina in 1963 to graduate with a degree in philosophy from the Colegio de San José in San Miguel. From 1964 to 1965 he taught literature and psychology at Immaculate Conception College in Santa Fé and in 1966 he taught the same subject at the Colegio del Salvatore in Buenos Aires. From 1967-70 he studied theology and obtained a degree from the Colegio of San José.
There are strict protocols when a pope dies. According to a website called Wanted in Rome:
Following the Pope’s passing, the Camerlengo (Chamberlain) is responsible for confirming the death. Traditionally, the Camerlengo would tap the Pope’s forehead with a silver hammer and call out his baptismal name three times. However, this practice has been discontinued, and the verification now occurs through other means, such as medical confirmation. Once the death is officially declared, the Camerlengo notifies senior church officials and the people of Rome.
The Camerlengo then seals the papal apartments and other offices, a tradition that originated to prevent looting and now serves as a symbolic end to the Pope’s rule. The Vatican enters into a nine-day mourning period, during which multiple Masses are held in honor of the late Pope.
The pope’s body will lie in state so the public can pay its respects. Following church tradition, the funeral will be held at St. Peter’s Basilica.
A conclave that includes all cardinals under the age of 80 will commence within 15-20 days to elect Francis’s successor. Around 120 cardinals will take a vow of secrecy before being secluded in the Sistine Chapel to deliberate. There are multiple rounds of voting until one candidate receives the required two-thirds majority. After every round of voting, smoke signals are sent from the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke indicates no decision has been made; white smoke announces that a new pope has been elected.
