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    The Bishop of Rome is dead, Pope Francis passes at 88.

    European Newsdesk Posted on

    VATICAN CITY: “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. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta.

    The world mourns the passing of Pope Francis, the 266th Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, who died peacefully at the Vatican at the age of 88. A transformative and deeply pastoral figure, Pope Francis—born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina—made history in 2013 as the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to assume the papacy.

    During his twelve-year pontificate, Pope Francis was widely recognized for his emphasis on mercy, social justice, and care for the environment. His encyclicals, including Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti, resonated far beyond the Catholic world, calling for global solidarity, environmental stewardship, and compassion for the marginalized. He also sought to reform the Church’s administrative structure, increase transparency, and foster dialogue between faiths.

    Following his death, the Church entered a period of mourning and transition, governed by the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, established by Pope John Paul II and later updated by Pope Benedict XVI. During this time, the College of Cardinals gathered in Rome to prepare for the Sede Vacante—the vacant seat of the Bishop of Rome.

    Traditionally, the funeral of a pope has been a grand and elaborate event steeped in centuries-old rituals. However, true to his humble and reform-minded nature, Pope Francis approved plans prior to his death that significantly simplify the proceedings.

    In contrast to his predecessors—who were buried in three nested coffins made of cypress, lead, and oak—Pope Francis chose a single, simple wooden coffin lined with zinc. He also dispensed with the long-standing practice of displaying the pope’s body on a raised platform, or catafalque, inside St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing.

    Instead, mourners will be invited to pay their respects while his body rests within the open coffin, the lid temporarily removed to allow a final farewell in a quieter, more intimate setting.

    In another break from tradition, Pope Francis will be the first pontiff in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican. His final resting place will be the Basilica of St. Mary Major—one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome. These basilicas hold a special status granted by the Vatican and maintain a unique connection to the papacy.

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