Jorge Mario Bergoglio, also known as Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff and the first Latin American pope in history, passed away on April 21 at the age of 88 due to a stroke and heart failure.
His death occurred at 7:35 a.m. local time in his residence at the Domus Sanctae Marthae within Vatican City. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, officially announced the pope’s passing at 9:45 a.m.
Funeral arrangements and public viewing
Pope Francis’s body was transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on April 23 for a period of public viewing.
The funeral mass took place on April 26 at 10:00 a.m. local time in St. Peter’s Square. The service was led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals.
In accordance with his wishes, Pope Francis was buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, making him the first pope to be interred outside the Vatican since Pope Leo XIII in 1903.
Initiation of the papal conclave
Following the nine-day mourning period, the Vatican will convene a conclave to elect the next pope. The College of Cardinals, comprising eligible cardinal electors under the age of 80, will gather in the Sistine Chapel to undertake this duty.
The conclave is conducted under strict secrecy. Cardinals are sequestered within the Vatican, and all forms of external communication are prohibited to maintain confidentiality.
The election process requires a two-thirds majority vote to elect the new pontiff. Balloting continues until such a majority is achieved, with black smoke signaling inconclusive votes and white smoke announcing the successful election of a new pope.
Legacy of Pope Francis
Elected in 2013, Pope Francis was known for his progressive stances on various social issues, including LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, and economic inequality. His papacy marked a significant shift towards inclusivity and modernization within the Church.
As the church enters this period of transition, the global Catholic community is encouraged to reflect on Pope Francis’s impactful leadership and awaits the selection of his successor.
