Tue Apr 22 06:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Pope Francis Dies at 88, Nine-Day Mourning Period Begins
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis, the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church, passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. He died at his residence, Casa Santa Marta, following a stroke and subsequent heart failure. A nine-day period of mourning, known as the Novendiale, has begun, a traditional Roman practice that precedes the election of the next Pope.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013, Cardinal Bergoglio was elected as his successor on March 13, 2013, choosing the papal name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.
Following the Novendiale, a conclave of cardinals will convene to elect his successor. Of the 135 cardinals eligible to vote in the conclave, four are from India: Cardinals Philip Neri Ferrao, Baselios Cleemis, Anthony Poola, and George Jacob Kaniamparambil. Globally, there are currently 252 cardinals.
The Vatican’s announcement triggered a period of reflection and preparation for the selection of the next Pope. The process, steeped in centuries of tradition, will be closely watched by Catholics worldwide.
First Piper 