On Easter Monday, news of the death of Pope Francis spread around the world. The head of the Catholic Church died at 7:35 on 21 April 2025 at the Domus Sanctae Marthae. The funeral ceremonies were scheduled for Saturday, 26 April.
Announcement of the Pope's death
Francis, the 266th successor of St. Peter, has passed away. The death of the Bishop of Rome was announced at 9:45 on 21 April 2025 by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Roman Church.
“Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I announce the death of our Holy Father”
– the cardinal said in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae. The Pope died after a brief illness, surrounded by his closest collaborators.
Funeral arrangements
The central point of the farewell will be the funeral Mass on Saturday, 26 April at 10:00. The ceremony will take place in St. Peter’s Square, in keeping with the tradition of recent decades.
The Vatican confirms:
- Access for the faithful of all denominations
- Media broadcast in 54 languages
- Participation of delegations from 138 countries
The camerlengo's role in the procedures
As camerlengo, Cardinal Farrell has taken over temporary leadership of the Church. His duties include:
- Confirming the Pope’s death
- Securing the papal apartment
- Organizing the conclave within 15-20 days
Historical context
The death of a reigning pope is an event without precedent since the death of John Paul II in 2005. Francis was the first resident pope in 600 years to live in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, and he went down in history for his reformist approach to governing the Church.
The final farewell to Pope Francis will gather both supporters and critics of his pontificate. The Vatican appeals for respect for the intimacy of the ceremony, while reminding that Catholic mourning has a universal character.
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