Pope Francis Died on Easter Monday, 21 April 2025

Pope Francis, the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years, died on Easter Monday, 21 April 2025. He was 88 years old. Pope Francis spent his final days in service of the church, participating as much as he could in the celebration of Easter, the high point of the Christian calendar.

Pope Francis recently experienced a serious bout of double pneumonia and was hospitalized for several weeks. He was released from the hospital on 24 March 2025. The death of Francis, who took office in 2013, became the first Latin American pontiff and was one of the oldest popes in the church’s history. He died just weeks after he was discharged from a Rome hospital having battled a life-threatening case of pneumonia in both lungs.

After a Pope dies, the Vatican enters a transitional period called sede vacante (“the seat is vacant”). During this time, the College of Cardinals takes temporary leadership, but no major decisions are made until a new Pope is elected. The Papal funeral is held, typically within a week, and then the conclave begins, where eligible cardinals (under 80) meet in the Sistine Chapel to elect a successor. 

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

1. Confirmation and Announcement:

The Pope’s death is confirmed by the papal physician and the Camerlengo, the acting administrator during the period of sede vacante. The death is then officially announced to the Vatican and the world. 

2. Sede Vacante Period:

The period between the Pope’s death and the election of a new one is called sede vacante. The College of Cardinals takes on a temporary leadership role, but no major decisions are made during this time. 

3. Funeral and Mourning:

A period of mourning, the novendiale, begins, lasting nine days. The funeral mass is held in St. Peter’s Square, and the Pope’s body is usually laid in state in St. Peter’s Basilica. 

4. Conclave:

After the funeral and mourning period, the conclave begins, where eligible cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new Pope. 

5. Election Process:

Cardinals vote in secret ballots until a two-thirds majority is reached. If a candidate doesn’t receive the necessary majority, ballots are burned, and black smoke is released from the Sistine Chapel chimney. When a new Pope is elected, white smoke is released, signaling the election to the world. 

6. Habemus Papam:

Once the election is complete, the dean of the College of Cardinals introduces the new Pope to the world on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and declares, “Habemus Papam!” (“We have a Pope!”). 

7. Papal Burials:

Traditionally, Popes are buried in the Vatican Grottoes, beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. 

When the Pope dies, black smoke released from the Sistine Chapel indicates that a new Pope has not been elected, while white smoke announces that a new Pope has been chosen. This smoke signaling is a crucial part of the papal conclave, the process by which a new Pope is elected by the College of Cardinals. 

The papal apartment is sealed and the symbols of Pope Francis’ papacy — his Fisherman’s ring and the seal he used for official documents — are destroyed to prevent forgeries. Vatican flags fly at half-staff. According to tradition, the Bronze Door at St. Peter’s Basilica is closed

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Mourning Period:

The Catholic Church enters a nine-day mourning period (Novemdiales) following the Pope’s death, according to Facebook. 

Conclave Begins:

The College of Cardinals gathers in a secret conclave to elect a new Pope. 

Smoke Signals:

After each round of voting, the ballots are burned. If no Pope is elected, black smoke is released, indicating the election is ongoing. 

New Pope Elected:

When a new Pope is elected with a two-thirds majority, white smoke is released, signifying a successful election. 

Rituals and Traditions:

The smoke signals, along with other rituals like the destruction of the Fisherman’s Ring, are part of a long tradition that ensures the orderly transfer of authority within the Church, according to signsmag.com.