Death and funeral of Pope Francis
2025 funeral of head of the Catholic Church From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
On 21 April 2025 (Easter Monday), at 07:35 CEST (UTC+2), Pope Francis died at the age of 88 at Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City.[1][2] His death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo, in a broadcast by Vatican Media and in a video statement at 09:45 on the same day.[3][4][5] Francis had served as pope, the head of the Catholic Church, for twelve years since his election on 13 March 2013. He was the second pope to die in office in the 21st century, after John Paul II in 2005.
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Francis's death followed a five-week stay in hospital a month earlier, where he suffered from a respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia.[6][7] The cause of his death was officially registered as a stroke followed by irreversible cardiac arrest.[8] Francis's Requiem Mass was celebrated on 26 April, five days after his death, and he was buried at Santa Maria Maggiore. The papal conclave that will determine Francis's successor is expected to convene on 7 May.[9]
Background
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Francis during his trip to Indonesia, September 2024
Francis's coat of arms
Elected in 2013 at the age of 76, Francis was then reported to be healthy despite having suffered from chronic lung damage, due in part to the lung excision he had as a young man. His doctors had said the lung tissue removed then would not significantly affect his health. The only concern would be decreased respiratory reserve if he had a respiratory infection. In the last few years of his life, he was prone to bouts of influenza and bronchitis in the winter. Knee problems and sciatica had prompted him to frequently use a wheelchair, walker, or cane.[10]
In 2021, Francis's health problems prompted rumours that he might resign,[11] which Francis dismissed.[12] In June 2022, after undergoing treatment to his knee, Francis cancelled planned trips to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan.[13] In an interview with Reuters that month, Francis said that he had not considered resigning but would do so if his health made it impossible for him to run the Church.[14] During his eventual trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in February 2023, Francis said that resignation was "not in his agenda at the moment".[15]
In March 2023, Francis was hospitalized in Rome with a respiratory infection.[16] He returned to celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday, in April.[17] In June, Francis underwent abdominal surgery after suffering from a hernia.[18] Francis had publicly used a wheelchair since 2022, initially due to persistent knee pain which required an operation.[19][20] He acknowledged that his recurring mobility problems had precipitated the beginning of what Reuters termed "a new, slower phase of his papacy",[21] although he was praised by disabled Catholics for making his "disability part of his visible identity".[22]
Last days and death
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Final illness
On 14 February 2025, Francis entered Gemelli Hospital in Rome due to bronchitis.[23] His hospital stay was extended due to a polymicrobial infection of his respiratory tract and bilateral pneumonia.[24][25][26] Vatican News described his condition as critical and reported that he was given blood transfusions and high-flow oxygen.[27][28] On 23 February, it was announced that Francis had early-stage kidney failure, though his condition remained "under control".[29][30] On 26 February, he showed slight improvement,[31] but suffered a bronchial spasm two days later, causing him to inhale vomit and require non-invasive mechanical ventilation, with the Vatican stating that his prognosis remained guarded.[32][33] On 3 March, it was reported that he had been removed from mechanical ventilation and was recovering.[34][35] The Vatican disclosed that Francis had suffered two episodes of "acute respiratory insufficiency".[36] After this episode, the third major downturn in the Pope's condition,[37] mechanical ventilation was resumed that afternoon.[38]
On 19 March, it was reported that Francis was no longer using mechanical ventilation at night, with his doctors stating that his lung infection was under control, although not eliminated.[39] He was discharged from hospital on 23 March,[40] immediately after blessing a crowd from his balcony; he was expected to spend at least two months recuperating at his home at Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City,[41] maintaining a reduced work schedule.[42][43] He appeared in public for the first time since the hospitalization on 6 April.[44]
On Easter Sunday, 20 April, Francis met with United States Vice President JD Vance[45][46] to exchange Easter greetings.[47] Francis delegated the traditional Easter Mass to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, but made a public appearance to personally bestow the Urbi et Orbi blessing, and to meet people in his popemobile in Saint Peter's Square.[48] The last political official to meet with Pope Francis was Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.[49] His final spoken words were a message of thanks to his nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, for allowing him to appear in the Square. Francis then rested that afternoon and had dinner.[50][51]
Death
Display case showing a zucchetto worn by the Pope at the Altar of the Kings in the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral. The zucchetto was a gift after his visit to the temple in 2016.
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Procession of the body of Pope Francis with his coffin carried by papal gentlemen while being guarded by Franciscans and Swiss Guards
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Francis's health began a sudden deterioration at 05:30 CEST on the morning of 21 April (Easter Monday), during which he made a final farewell gesture toward his nurse and lost consciousness.[50] His physician, Dr. Sergio Alfieri, was immediately summoned. He found the pope, eyes opened and breathing normally but unresponsive to stimuli. A severe stroke was quickly diagnosed. After brief discussion, it was decided against transporting Francis to the hospital, as it was believed that the pope's condition was fatal and nothing further could be done. There was no sign of physical suffering.[52]
He died at 07:35, at his residence in Vatican City, aged 88.[5][53] His death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, in a statement broadcast on Vatican Media from the chapel of the papal residence at Domus Sanctae Marthae.[54] A death certificate released by the Vatican later that day confirmed that Francis had died of a stroke, which led to coma and irreversible cardiac arrest. His death certificate also noted that he was suffering from type 2 diabetes and hypertension.[55][56][57] On 22 April, the Vatican released the first images of Pope Francis lying in state at the Domus Sanctae Marthae chapel, wearing his bishop's mitre, a pallium, red vestments, and his regular black shoes.[58] Carmela "Carmelina" Mancuso was the only layperson who was allowed to present her respects to the pontiff while he remained in the chapel.[59]
The Papal Apartments at the Apostolic Palace, and the personal apartment of Pope Francis at Domus Sanctae Marthae, were later sealed by the Cardinal Camerlengo.[60]
Following his death, Francis's spiritual testament, dated 29 June 2022, was released, revealing his wish to be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, specifically "in the burial niche in the side aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the Basilica."[61] His statement ended: "May the Lord grant a fitting reward to all those who have loved me and who continue to pray for me. The suffering that has marked the final part of my life, I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and for fraternity among peoples."[61]
Sixty cardinals held an organizational meeting on 22 April.[62] On 23 April at 09:00, Francis's remains were moved from Domus Sanctae Marthae to St. Peter's Basilica to lie in state for a three-day public viewing which occurred from 11:00 at the same date until 19:00 on 25 April.[63][64][65] Over 19,000 people came to view Francis within the first eight and a half hours of his lying in state,[66] with queues reaching up to Via della Conciliazione. By that evening, the number of attendees had reached 90,000, prompting officials to shorten closing time to 1.5 hours for cleaning on the morning of 24 April and open the basilica all night afterwards.[67] By 25 April, the number had reached more than 250,000.[68] French-Argentine nun Geneviève Jeanningros, a personal friend of Pope Francis, was let unusually close to his coffin to pay her respects.[69][70]
On 28 April, one week after his death, it was confirmed that the 2025 papal conclave to elect Francis's successor would convene on 7 May.[9][71]
Funeral
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Proceedings began with the Camerlengo, Kevin Farrell, presiding over the rite of ascertainment of death in the papal chapel.[72][73] A papal funeral has traditionally been an elaborate affair, but Francis approved plans to simplify the rubrics of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the liturgical book detailing the rites of a papal funeral.[5] He opted for a basic wooden coffin lined with zinc and ended the tradition of popes being buried in three coffins (cypress, lead, and elm) and placing the pope's body on a raised platform for public viewing.[74][75]
On 25 April, Francis's coffin was sealed during a liturgical rite which began an hour after the lying in state ended.[76] Controversy broke out after Roger Mahony, the former Archbishop of Los Angeles who was relieved of his office in 2013 due to mishandling of clerical sexual abuse, played a role in the ceremonies as the senior cardinal-priest in Rome, closing the lid of the papal coffin.[77] A text summarising the pope's life (rogitum) was placed in his coffin.[78][79] After the Litany of the Saints, the patriarchs, archbishops, and metropolitans of the Eastern Catholic Churches stood beside the coffin of Pope Francis for the Supplicatio Ecclesiae Orientalium (formerly known as the Officio Defectorum in Byzantine liturgy). After thrice chanting the Paschal troparion and chanting prayers, one of the patriarchs censed the coffin.[80][81][82]
The Mass of Requiem took place on 26 April at 10:00, led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.[58] Roughly 130 foreign delegations were confirmed at the funeral by the Vatican, including several prominent world leaders and heads of state.[83][84] Around 250,000 people were estimated to have attended the funeral Mass at St. Peter's Square, while 140,000 lined up to see the funeral procession in Rome.[85] The funeral Mass also began a nine-day mourning period, known as the novendiales, during which the cardinals will concelebrate Mass in Francis's memory. The Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff released the schedule and the list of cardinals who will officiate the Masses for the novendiales.[86][87]
The Italian government deployed more than 2,500 police officers and 1,500 soldiers to provide security during the funeral. It also deployed a naval vessel off the coast of Rome, and placed fighter jet squadrons on standby.[68] A no-fly zone was imposed over Rome ahead of the funeral.[88]
The designed seating order at the funeral was based on a division in classes by type of dignitary (reigning monarchs, non-royal heads of state, heads of government, etc.). Within each class, the arrangement was organized according to the alphabetical order of the official French names of the dignitaries' home countries, as French is seen as the main language of international diplomacy. An exception was made for the presidents of Argentina (Javier Milei), Francis's native country, and Italy (Sergio Mattarella), who were both given precedence ahead of other dignitaries.[89]
The funeral offered a chance for "brush-by" diplomatic encounters between leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who met at St. Peter's Basilica ahead of the funeral.[90]
Some national leaders at the funeral of Pope Francis
St. Peter's Square during the funeral
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Burial
Following a procession via popemobile, Francis was buried in the Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome "in the burial niche in the side aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the Basilica".[91][61] He had a "great devotion" to the Salus Populi Romani icon kept in that church.[92] He was the eighth pope to be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major[93] and the first pope to be interred outside the Vatican since Pope Leo XIII in 1903.[2] As the wooden and zinc coffin[94] was carried up the stairs of the Basilica, 40 mourners from the poorest and most marginalized communities – including prisoners on day release, human trafficking victims, transgender women, migrants, sex workers, and homeless people – greeted the coffin.[95]
On 27 April, the Second Sunday of Easter, members of the College of Cardinals visited Pope Francis's tomb, where they performed the evening Second Vespers prayer.[96]
Reactions
Following Francis's death, many political and religious leaders across the world offered condolences and paid tribute.[97][98] Several countries also declared periods of national mourning for Pope Francis.[99]
See also
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References
External links
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