Pope Francis, also known as Jose Mario Bergogli,o passed away Monday, April 21 at 7:35 AM, and Cardinal Kevin Farrell officially announced his death from Casa Santa Marta. The Holy See Press Office later stated that his remains may be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on April 23, allowing the faithful to pay their respects.
On Monday evening, the rite of death certification and placement in the coffin took place in the late Pope’s residence, overseen by Cardinal Farrell. Seals were placed on his living quarters, and close collaborators have begun paying their respects.
Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said in announcement. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.
The first General Congregation of Cardinals will meet on Tuesday to discuss arrangements, including the funeral date.
Early Life
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Italian immigrant parents who had fled Mussolini’s regime. He was the eldest of five children. His grandmother, Rosa Margherita Vassallo di Bergoglio, played a significant role in shaping his religious beliefs, introducing him to Catholic traditions, saints, and literature. Biographer Austen Ivereigh described his upbringing as austere but happy, with a strong emphasis on faith and learning. One of his favorite novels was The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni.
A young Jose Mario Bergoglio, top row second from left, poses with his family for a portrait in Buenos Aires, Argentina.Franco Origlia—Getty Images
What happens next?
When a pope dies, a nine-day mourning period called novemdiales follows, during which funeral rites are observed. The pope lies in state, allowing the public to pay respects, as was seen when around 1 million mourners visited John Paul II’s body before his funeral.
The College of Cardinals sets the funeral date, typically between the fourth and sixth day after death. The camerlengo oversees funeral arrangements, following the late pope’s instructions. John Paul II’s funeral lasted three hours and was attended by global dignitaries, with his burial immediately following in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica. Pope Francis has expressed his wish to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore instead.
Following the funeral, a conclave of cardinals under age 80 elects the next pope. The process occurs in the Sistine Chapel and can last several days, with white smoke signaling a successful election. In 2005, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI after just two days of voting.
The Conclave Election
The conclave takes place in secrecy within the Sistine Chapel. Electors cast ballots until a candidate receives two-thirds of the vote. Smoke signals indicate progress—black smoke means no decision, while white smoke announces a new Pope. Once elected, the chosen candidate accepts the title, selects a papal name, and is presented to the public.
Although no official rules require the Pope to be a cardinal, every previous pontiff has held the title. Predictions for the next Pope remain uncertain, as past elections have defied expectations. Despite discussions on expanding leadership roles for women, only men remain eligible for the papacy.
Who are the frontrunners to become the next pope?
Jean-Marc Aveline
Jean-Marc Aveline, 66, is well-known for his support for migrants. That stance is personal, as the cardinal himself fled his home due to war when he was just four years old. His family eventually settled in Marseille, France, a city with a substantial Muslim population, making him keen to interfaith dialogues. Aveline has a doctorate in theology. He is reportedly Pope Francis’ “favorite” possible successor, according to the College of Cardinals Report, though he differs from Francis in that he expressed caution at blessings for same-sex couples, as opposed to individuals.
Joseph Tobin
Joseph Tobin, 72, is a highly progressive candidate for the Church and has amassed substantial influence in the U.S. Tobin has voiced avid support for LGBTQ+ Catholics, women in the Church, and migrants, even going against then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence over the politician’s efforts to stop the resettlement of Syrian refugees. He previously worked in the role of a second-in-command of the Vatican office before his current role as the Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey. In that position, he’s dealt with the high-profile Theodore McCarrick sexual assault scandal.
Juan Jose Omella
Juan Jose Omella, 79, worked as an advisor to Pope Francis prior to his passing. The Spanish cardinal earned his red cloak just one year after he was given the title of archbishop. He has spoken strongly against abortion, but has made controversial comments regarding reports of sexual abuse within the Catholic Chruch in Spain, calling the estimated figures that fell in the hundreds of thousands “lies.” He followed that by saying that “We will not tire of asking for forgiveness from the victims and working for their healing.” Omella studied theology and philosophy at the Seminary of Zaragoza.
Pietro Parolin
Italian Pietro Parolin, 70, has been serving as the Vatican’s Secretary of State since 2013 and is the highest-ranking cardinal in the electing conclave. He is considered an expert on a number of geo-political issues. From 2002 to 2009, he was undersecretary of state for Relations with States and directed relations with Vietnam, North Korea, Israel, and China.
Péter Erdő
Péter Erdő, 72, would be a more conservative pick for the top post. In 2003, at 51, the Hungarian national was made one of the Church’s youngest cardinals after being appointed by John Paul II. He has opposed divorced and remarried individuals taking communion, believing that marriage is indissoluble, and is against same-sex marriage. His stance on immigration, a key issue in Hungary, has also come under fire in the past: he once compared taking in refugees to human smuggling, but is said to have changed his stance after a meeting with Pope Francis, who was much more liberal on issues of immigration and refugees.
Peter Turkson
Peter Turkson, 76, would be a progressive pick for the Church. Turkson, an archbishop from Ghana, was first named cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2003. Turkson was selected by Pope Francis to help lead special assemblies advocating for development in the pan-Amazon region, and a council for justice and peace. In March, the University of Dayton announced that Turkson would be receiving an honorary doctorate this year, calling him a “tireless advocate for the poor and marginalized, championing the cause of human dignity.” At least six other colleges have also recognized him with an honorary doctorate.
Luis Antonio Tagle
If elected, Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, of the Philippines, would be the first modern-day Asian Pope. Currently serving as pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Tagle is more left-leaning, having spoken out against the isolating impact of the Church’s harsh language against same-sex marriage.
“Yes, I think even the language has changed already, the harsh words that were used in the past to refer to gays and divorced and separated people, the unwed mothers etc, in the past they were quite severe,” he said in 2015. “Many people who belonged to those groups were branded and that led to their isolation from the wider society.
Mario Grech
Mario Grech, 68, is the secretary general of the Synod. The Malta-born cardinal has expressed his disapproval of divorce and in vitro fertilization, but in the same breath called on the Catholic church to accept divorced and gay couples. The Church should be “an experience of God” instead of a “moral agency” he told the Sunday Times of Malta in a 2015 interview. Under his current role in the church, Grech was in charge of overseeing the Synod of Synodality—when religious leaders gather to consult on the future direction of the Church—making him well-connected among bishops and cardinals. He has been outspoken in his support of migrants, calling on Europe to better address the humanitarian issue at-hand. He added: “It is also important in such a delicate sector not to allow institutional discrimination between the well-off foreigners and the poor, those coming from the East and those coming from Africa.”
Matteo Maria Zuppi
Italian Matteo Maria Zuppi, 69, has taken the lead from Francis in his attempts to foster a more inclusive environment within the church. He served as special envoy to Russia and Ukraine and has engaged in dialogue with leaders in Kyiv, Moscow, Washington D.C., the West Bank, and Beijing. He has been open about his acceptance of homosexuality and is also supportive of prisoners’ rights and the abolition of the death penalty, and in June 2023, he called for a “legal system that guarantees protection and welcome for all.”