Pope Francis Death Latest Updates: Pontiff Died Of Stroke And Heart Failure, Says Vatican; First Public Prayer Held At St Peter's Square

Pope Francis died of a stroke and subsequent irreversible heart failure, the Vatican says in a statement.

Thousands of mourners gathered in St Peter's Square as the Vatican held its first public prayer service to honour the passing of Pope Francis. The solemn ceremony marked the beginning of official tributes to the late Pontiff, whose legacy of compassion and reform deeply touched millions around the world.

India has announced a three-day State Mourning across India to honor the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, Supreme Pontiff of the Holy See, who died on April 21, 2025. State Mourning will be observed on April 22 and 23, and again on the day of the Pope's funeral. During this period, the National Flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings, and no official entertainment will take place.

Thousands of mourners are gathering outside St Peter's Cathedral on Monday to pay their final respects to Pope Francis, following his passing at the age of 88. 

US President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on Monday, directing that US flags be flown at half-staff in honor of Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88. The directive includes lowering the flag at the White House, as well as on public and military properties, naval vessels, and foreign diplomatic missions, in a mark of respect for the late pontiff's memory. Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church for over a decade, was widely revered for his work and influence on the global stage.

The Vatican will host its first public prayer for Pope Francis tonight in St. Peter's Square. A senior Vatican cardinal is set to lead the prayer service at 7:30 pm local time (1730 GMT), according to a Vatican spokesman. The gathering will mark a solemn tribute to the late pontiff following his passing.

US President Donald Trump paid tribute to Pope Francis following the pontiff’s passing, expressing his condolences on social media. “Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God bless him and all who loved him!” Trump wrote.

The laying of pope's body in the coffin will be held at the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae. The ritual will be attended the family members of Pope Francis and the senior officials of the Vatican.

The body of Pope Francis will be laid in a coffin at 8 PM (local time) on Monday, according to the Vatican. The camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, will certify the death and preside over the ritual of placing of Francis' body in the coffin.

“The transfer of the body of the Holy Father to the Vatican Basilica for the homage of all the faithful could take place on Wednesday morning,” CNN quotes Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office.

After a pope dies, the Vatican follows a set pattern of events, from announcing the death to burying the deceased pontiff. A papal death is announced by the camerlengo and the pope's apartment is sealed. The Holy figure's coffin is then placed in St Peter's Basilica for public viewing. Next, the body is taken for a funeral mass, which is presided by dean of the College of Cardinals. The interment or the burial is held between the fourth and sixth day after the pontiff's death. The funeral is followed by a nine-day official mourning, which is termed 'novendiali'. The mourning period is the time for the cardinals to arrive in Rome and assemble for the conclave which would elect the new pope. The conclave ideally begins about 15-20 days after the Vatican declares 'sede vacante' (empty chair). The conclave can be held earlier if the cardinals consent to it.

Pope Francis will be buried in St Mary Major Basilica, which he chose for himself after reforming his funeral rites. In November 2024, he simplified the rites to make them similar to those held for a mere bishop. The reforms will also allow his burial outside the Vatican. Francis will be laid to rest in St. Mary Major Basilica, which hosts his favourite icon of the Virgin Mary, the Salus Populi Romani.

Pope Francis was elected on a mandate to reform the Vatican bureaucracy and finances but went further in shaking up the church without changing its core doctrine. Stressing mercy, Francis changed the church's position on the death penalty, calling it inadmissible in all circumstances. He also declared the possession of nuclear weapons, not just their use, was “immoral”. In other firsts, he approved an agreement with China over bishop nominations that had vexed the Vatican for decades, met the Russian patriarch and charted new relations with the Muslim world by visiting the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq. He reaffirmed the all-male, celibate priesthood and upheld the church's opposition to abortion, equating it to “hiring a hitman to solve a problem”.

- AP

Catholics around the world mourned the death of the religious leader. People in Rome came out on the streets to pay homage to Pope Francis. In the photo, a woman can be seen carrying a cross on April 21, 2025. (Image: REUTERS)

Here's a look at the probable names for the next Pope:

- Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70-year-old Catholic priest, is currently the Vatican’s Secretary of State.
- Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, leads the Italian Episcopal Conference.
- Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, 75, a conservative candidate who has been a vocal critic of Francis’s reforms.
- Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72, belonging to Hungary, is another key conservative candidate.
- Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, of the Philippines, could become the first Asian pope.

Pope Francis' death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Ferrell from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis resided. Here's the full text of the announcement of Pope Francis' death:

“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, The Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father's house. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. 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 God, One and Triune."

The death of Pope Francis, which marks the end of a papacy, has sparked curiosity around the traditions and methods of the Roman Catholic Church. Here's what happens when a pope dies. Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88, will be given an elaborate farewell according to the Catholic rituals. The vacuum left behind by the Pope will temporarily be filled by a cardinal known as the camerlengo (chamberlain). Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is currently the camerlengo, will be in-charge of running the daily affairs of the Church during this period, known as 'sede vacante' which means 'empty chair'.

Pope Francis had often exhibited his progressive thinking, which deviated from the orthodox views of the Church. On being asked about a gay priest, the Pope had said, “Who am I to judge?” Backing the rights of LGBTQ community, Francis had called for legal reforms and an end to laws that criminalised homosexuality. “Being homosexual is not a crime,” he had said to news agency The Associated Press in 2023.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni remembers Pope Francis as "a great man, a great shepherd". Mourning his death, she says, "I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice, his teachings, which never ceased not even during times of trial and suffering."

French President Emmanuel Macron remembers Pope Francis as he says, "Throughout his pontificate Pope Francis had always sided with the most vulnerable and the most fragile, and that he did this with a lot of humility. In this time of war and brutality, he had a sense for the other, for the most fragile,"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences over the death of the Pope, saying "Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope. I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God's embrace."

US Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic Christian, who met Pope Francis on Sunday, expresses grief at the loss of the religious leader. "I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday (Sunday), though he was obviously very ill. But Ill always remember him for the.... homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful."

Born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Argentine was appointed as the Pope on March 13, 2013. He took over the papacy after the sudden resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, whose tenure was inflicted with scandals.

Pope Francis was the first Latin American person to become a pontiff. He gained popularity across the world with his humility and empathy for the poor and the downtrodden. His approach towards the global issues gave a new era of papacy.

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced on Monday morning. The pontiff who suffered from chronic lung disease passed away after facing months of issues which turned into double pneumonia. Francis had part of one lung removed at a young age. On February 14, 2025, the pontiff was admitted to Gemelli hospital, where he remained for 38 days. This was the longest he had stayed hospitalised in his 12-year papacy.