Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, stated, “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.” The Vatican reported that the cause of death was due to a stroke and heart failure.
On March 13, 2013, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, archbishop of Buenos Aires, was elected in the conclave to become the first pope from the Americas. As the 265th successor to Saint Peter, he was the first pope to take the name of Francis, a name chosen in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi because he wanted “a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 49). Read his full biography on the Vatican website.
“Pope Francis will long be remembered for his outreach to those on the margins of the Church and of society. He renewed for us the mission to bring the Gospel out to the ends of the earth and offer divine mercy to all. He has also taken advantage of the present Jubilee to call us to a profound hope: one that is not an empty or naïve hope, but one grounded in the promise of Almighty God to be with us always,” said Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in remembrance.
The funeral mass for Pope Francis will be at 10:00 am Rome time on Saturday, April 26, 2025. After the funeral, Pope Francis will be interred in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. All Catholics will mourn the passing of Pope Francis with nine days of prayer. During this time the College of Cardinals will participate in preparatory meetings. You can find more detailed information about the events that lead to the election of a new Pope here or watch this video by the St. Louis Review.