Tue Apr 22 16:17:12 UTC 2025: ## Pope Francis Dies at 88; Funeral Set for Saturday

**Vatican City** – Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, passed away on Monday at the age of 88 following a stroke. His death prompted an outpouring of grief worldwide. Cardinals have announced his funeral will be held this Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. Public viewings will begin Wednesday, allowing the faithful to pay their respects.

The cardinals met Tuesday to plan the next steps before the conclave to elect his successor. World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei, are expected to attend the funeral.

Francis, who had been hospitalized for five weeks with pneumonia, made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday. His papacy, spanning 12 years, was marked by efforts to reform the Church and focus on its mission to serve the poor. His final will stipulated burial at St. Mary Major basilica outside the Vatican.

Tributes poured in from around the globe, highlighting Francis’s moral leadership, compassion, and simplicity. Leaders praised his outspokenness against war and his advocacy for justice and environmental protection. Ordinary citizens remembered his humility and connection to the people.

Following centuries-old tradition, the Pope’s apartments were sealed, and his body was prepared for viewing. Unlike previous popes, Francis’s body was placed in a simplified wooden coffin, reflecting his own emphasis on simplicity. His coffin will be displayed simply in St. Peter’s Basilica, without the traditional elevated bier.

The nine-day period of mourning, known as the “novendiali,” will begin after the funeral, during which cardinals will gather in Rome before the conclave to elect the next pope. The conclave, expected to start 15-20 days after the declaration of the “sede vacante” (vacant See), will involve secret voting sessions in the Sistine Chapel. The election will be announced from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica with the traditional phrase “Habemus Papam” (“We have a pope”).

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