After a final appearance at St. Peter’s Square following Easter Mass, Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Monday, April 21.
Francis had experienced health issues in recent months, including a long stay at the hospital with bilateral pneumonia.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in a statement on Vatican News. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
The papal conclave, a secretive process in which a new pope is chosen, will begin within the next few weeks. In the meantime, here is what we know about Francis’ burial proceedings.
In the evening of April 21, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell will preside over the certification of death and the laying of the body in the coffin, according to a Vatican press release. Francis will be buried in a simple wood casket instead of the interlocking cypress, lead and oak caskets his predecessors chose.
Francis’ may be moved to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning for the veneration of the faithful, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said, according to the Vatican News, adding that final plans would be communicated on April 22. Francis had asked to be left inside the casket with the lid off instead of being placed on a raised platform in the Basilica.
Typically, a pope’s body remains on public display for a few days during the nine-day mourning period.
The Vatican has yet to announce any specific funeral arrangements for Francis as of Monday morning.
However, the funeral is held within the nine days of mourning known as novemdiales, typically four to six days after his death. It is held outside in St. Peter’s Square to accommodate large numbers of mourners.
Francis will be buried in Rome at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, breaking with the tradition of being buried inside the Vatican.
After the funeral proceedings, the papal conclave elects a new pope, which starts 15 to 20 days after the pope’s death.
The College of Cardinals, the most senior members of the church, gather in the Sistine Chapel and vow to secrecy before they begin voting.
A cardinal must receive a two-thirds vote to become the new pope.
Contributing: Christopher Cann, Savannah Kuchar, John Bacon; Janet Loehrke, George Petras, USA TODAY; Reuters
Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.