A sculpture made by Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik depicting Pope Francis as a mark of tribute following the information of his loss of life, in Puri of India’s Odisha state on April 21, 2025. Agence France-Presse
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis died of a stroke on Monday on the Vatican aged 88.
His funeral is to be held later this week within the presence of worshippers and dignitaries earlier than a conclave of cardinals is convened to elect a successor.
Right here’s what we all know concerning the circumstances surrounding Jorge Bergoglio’s loss of life and what’s to comply with.
Deadly stroke
Pope Francis was admitted to a Rome hospital on February 14 with bronchitis, which later changed into double pneumonia that just about killed him twice.
READ: Pope Francis has died – Vatican
He left hospital on March 23 and was on account of endure a strict two-month convalescence interval.
However the Argentine made a sequence of impromptu public appearances, wanting more and more weak.
The Vatican introduced his loss of life early Monday morning.
Francis died of “cerebral stroke, coma, irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse”, in accordance with a loss of life certificates launched by the Vatican.
Lie in state
His physique was laid to relaxation in a coffin within the chapel of the Santa Marta residence on Monday night. It’s anticipated to be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica beginning Wednesday to lie in state.
Funeral
There is no such thing as a set date for a funeral but, nevertheless it should happen between the fourth and sixth days after the pope’s passing — so between Friday and Sunday.
READ: Pope Francis: Remembering his life, teachings and legacy – Stay Updates
A primary gathering of cardinals is anticipated to resolve precisely when on Tuesday.
The funeral mass will probably be held in St Peter’s Basilica within the Vatican, the place Francis’s instant predecessors have been buried. However he requested to be buried within the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
World leaders and devoted from everywhere in the world are anticipated to flock to town to attend the ceremony and pay their respects to the chief of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
US President Donald Trump was the primary to announce his attendance.
Conclave
The beginning date of the conclave, throughout which 135 so-called “cardinal electors” will select Francis’s successor, shouldn’t be but recognized both.
Nevertheless it ought to start at least 15 and not more than 20 days after the loss of life of the pope.
The cardinals will meet within the Sistine Chapel, a Renaissance jewel adorned with Michelangelo’s celebrated frescoes, and maintain 4 ballots a day, two within the morning and two within the afternoon, till one candidate wins two-thirds of the votes.
On the finish of every session, the ballots are burned in a range by the chapel, releasing smoke above the Apostolic Palace because the world watches.
If black smoke billows from a chimney overlooking St Peter’s Sq., the vote has been unsuccessful.
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White smoke alerts a brand new pope has been elected.
