Hundreds of thousands all over the world may have tuned in to observe as Pope Francis was laid to rest on Saturday, with 400,000 mourners alone paying their last respects exterior St Peter’s Basilica.
The late pontiff’s coffin was transported exterior Vatican Metropolis into Rome, the place it was buried at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, with the inscription of his papal title in Latin: Franciscus.
Francis’s funeral marks the primary day of the ‘Novemdiales’, or 9 days of mourning, earlier than the Cardinals can begin the papal conclave, a centuries previous ritual to pick out the following pope.
Pope Francis, 88, died following a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible coronary heart failure, the Vatican introduced.
The pope was hospitalised for a number of weeks in February, after affected by double pneumonia. He returned to the Vatican in mid-March to recuperate.
As the primary pope from Latin America, Pope Francis had led the 1.4 billion-member church since 2013.
Right here is the timeline of occasions from the pope’s dying and what’s going to occur going ahead.
20 April 2025 – the pope’s last public look
The day earlier than the pope died, he carried on working by way of Easter Sunday. Francis even made a public look, his first since he was discharged from Gemelli hospital after five weeks with double pneumonia, as he went out into St Peter’s Sq. within the popemobile.
He was initially hesitant to make the shock look, asking his 24-hour private well being care assistant, Mr Strappetti: “Do you suppose I can handle it?”
However as soon as he was within the Sq., he embraced the gang in a poignant second of his final outing. He would say to Mr Strappetti: “Thanks for bringing me again to the Sq..”
21 April 2025 – Pope Francis dies aged 88 on Easter Monday
The Vatican introduced that Pope Francis had died early on Monday morning at 7.35am. The camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, introduced his passing two hours later to the remainder of the world through the Vatican’s information outlet.
It was later revealed that the pope all of the sudden fell sick at 5.30am earlier than slipping right into a coma. His reason for dying was attributable to a stroke and irreversible coronary heart failure.
Later that day, his dying certificates was handled and the position of the coffin was organised within the chapel on the bottom flooring of his residence within the Casa Santa Marta.
Additionally they positioned seals on the papal house on the third flooring of the Apostolic Palace and on the house on the second flooring of Casa Santa Marta, the place the pope had resided.
As camerlengo, Cardinal Farrell will handle the Holy See’s monetary and administrative duties in absence of a pope whereas a papal conclave is underway.
22 April 2025 – the primary Normal Congregation of Cardinals takes place
The primary Normal Congregation of Cardinals befell, throughout which they determined when Francis’s funeral would happen. This marked the start interval of prayer, reflection and preparation following the pope’s dying.
Within the night, a Rosary befell in St Peter’s Sq., inviting the devoted to affix in prayer for Francis.
23 April 2025 – Pope Francis’s coffin is taken to lie in state
Pope Francis’ coffin was taken to St Peter’s Basilica to lie in state for 3 days, permitting the general public to pay their respects.
26 April 2025 – The funeral service and the 9 day mourning interval begins
The funeral service befell in St Peter’s Sq. from 10am earlier than he was taken to St Mary Main for burial. A nine-day interval of mourning has began.
The basilica was necessary to the pope as a result of it was his favorite place to hope. He prayed there earlier than and after each worldwide journey.
“I’ve all the time had an important devotion to St Mary Main, even earlier than I grew to become pope,” he wrote in his 2024 e-book El Sucesor.
The final pope who was not buried on Vatican grounds was Leo XIII in 1903.
27 April 2025 – Day two of Novemdiales with a Mass for the devoted of Vatican Metropolis
Cardinal Pietro Parollin, Secretary of State for the Vatican, will preside over a Mass for the staff and devoted of Vatican Metropolis at St Peter’s Sq. on the morning after the pope’s funeral.
28 April 2025 – Day three of Novemdiales with a Mass for the Church of Rome
Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar Normal of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome, will oversee Mass for the Church of Rome on the Monday night at St Peter’s Basilica.
29 April 2025 – Day 4 of Novemdiales with a Mass for The Chapters of the Papal Basilicas
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St Peter within the Vatican, will preside over a Mass for the Chapters of the Papal Basilicas on Tuesday night. There are 4 Papal Basilicas in Rome, St Peter’s within the Vatican, in addition to St John Lateran’s, Saint Mary Main’s and St Paul’s Outdoors the Partitions. The chapters are answerable for the liturgical and sacramental look after every of the church buildings.
30 April 2025 – Day 5 of Novemdiales with a Mass for the Papal Chapel
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Vice-Dean of the School of Cardinals, will oversee Mass for the Papal Chapel on Wednesday night. The Papal Chapel assisted the pope in his features because the non secular head of the church, particularly throughout non secular ceremonies.
1 Might 2025 – Day six of Novemdiales with a Mass for the Roman Curia
Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside the Mass for the Roman Curia on Thursday night. The Roman Curia contains the executive establishments of the Holy See, which is the central governing physique of the Catholic Church.
2 Might 2025 – Day seven of Novemdiales with a Mass for the Japanese Church buildings
Per week into mourning, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for the Japanese Church buildings will oversee mass for the Japanese Church buildings on Friday night. The Japanese Church buildings represents Catholicism throughout Japanese Europe, Japanese Africa, the Center East, and India, with 18 million members.
3 Might 2025 – Day eight of Novemdiales with a Mass for members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Professional-Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life will oversee a Mass for members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
4 Might 2025 – Day 9 of Novemdiales with a Mass for the Papal Chapel group
On the ultimate day of mourning, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Protodeacon of the School of Cardinals, will preside the Mass with the Papal Chapel group once more on Sunday night.
5 Might 2025 – the earliest date the papal conclave can start
The conclave to elect a new pope sometimes begins between 15 to twenty days after the pope’s passing. Cardinals are anticipated to present a precise date after the funeral.
The method of election is shrouded in secrecy, and it’s believed to be just about unchanged in 800 years. Beneath the present guidelines, solely cardinals beneath the age of 80 are allowed to forged a vote.
Formally candidates for pope need only be male and Catholic, though in actuality, pontiffs have solely ever been chosen from the ranks of cardinals for hundreds of years.
The 135 cardinals of voting age will collect contained in the exquisitely embellished Sistine Chapel – residence of all of the Papal Conclaves since 1858, the place they may whittle down candidates by way of successive rounds of voting.
When the cardinals have gathered, the shout “further omnes” (everyone out) rings out and the cardinals – who’re sworn to an oath of secrecy – might be locked contained in the Conclave till they’ll select a successor.
There is no such thing as a assure that the primary spherical of voting might be revealed the identical day. By means of a mix of speeches, prayer, reflection – and intense political jostling.
The names of 9 cardinals are chosen at random to officiate and organise the vote. Three turn into scrutineers, whose job it’s to supervise the vote. Three extra gather the votes and three extra revise them.
Throughout every poll cardinals write the title of their selection, ideally in distorted handwriting to disguise their identification. The poll papers are then burned in a small fireplace contained in the Sistine Chapel. The black smoke which is produced by the hearth tells the crowds ready exterior {that a} new pope has but to be chosen.
A pope is simply elected when a single candidate receives a two-thirds majority.
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