Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, will be moved to St. Peter’s Basilica by 9:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Wednesday, the Vatican announced. His body currently rests in a cypress-wood coffin in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, the guesthouse where he chose to live rather than the Apostolic Palace, during his 12-year papacy.
Doctors confirmed the pontiff succumbed to a massive stroke after weeks of battling double pneumonia. The Vatican disclosed that Francis was hospitalized for nearly five weeks earlier this year, and eventually fell into a coma before experiencing what was described as “irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse” — a condition that ultimately ended his life.
Cardinals are scheduled to gather today, April 22, to finalize funeral arrangements for the late pope, while heads of state, religious leaders, and thousands of pilgrims prepare to pay their final respects in Rome. The Vatican has also announced that a conclave will convene next month to elect the next Supreme Pontiff.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis made history on March 13, 2013, as the first pope from Latin America and the first Jesuit pope. His reign was marked by a commitment to social justice, interfaith dialogue, and institutional reform within the Catholic Church.
Mourning ceremonies began quietly on Tuesday morning at Santa Marta, where close aides and clergy filed in for a final prayer session. The Vatican expects record crowds over the next few days, with thousands already lining up outside the Basilica by early evening today.
Global tributes have poured in since Monday, including messages from U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, all praising Pope Francis as a “bridge-builder” and a “tireless voice for the poor and marginalized.”
Security has been heightened in Vatican City ahead of the papal funeral, which is expected to take place on Friday, April 25, and broadcast worldwide. While the Vatican has not confirmed who will officiate, the Dean of the College of Cardinals is expected to preside, marking the end of a chapter that redefined papal leadership in the 21st century.
