BREAKING: Pope Francis, The People’s Pontiff, Dead at 88 on Easter Monday

By; Grant Smith-Ellis
Date; 4/21/25
Time; 4:30am ET

BREAKING per the Vatican News Service:

"Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta."

On Sunday, the Pope made his final public appearance, greeting worshipers, providing Easter blessing and kissing babies in Vatican Square. See video of those moments here.

Known as a reformer, and also the first Jesuit to hold the Papal Office, the Pope was a humble man who rode the bus to work when he was a high-ranking official in Argentina and, during his time as Pope, enjoyed daily trips around Rome in a small Fiat car.

An extended process to find a new Pope, involving the College of Cardinals and a locked Conclave, will begin.

First, all of the Cardinals are summonsed to Rome for a meeting at the Vatican, then the Conclave begins. Black smoke from a chimney signals the Conclave has failed to select a new Pope, while white smoke confirms the task is done. During the interim the College of Cardinals governs the Church.

For now, The Vatican’s Camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, will take charge of the Hole See’s affairs, including arranging for the late Holy Father’s funeral. A formal mourning, novendiales, now begins for Catholics worldwide.Pope Francis’s funeral will take place in roughly six days, and the Conclave to select a new Pope will begin, within the Sistine Chapel, in 15-20 days.

That Conclave will be permitted to take up to four votes per day, by way of secret ballots that are burned after each count, and a 2/3 majority is required for election as Pontiff. Any Male, who has been baptized, may be selected as Pope. However, by Church custom, the Pope is chosen from among the gathered Cardinals (and, in particular, the powerful College of Cardinals).

Occasionally, the Conclave shifts to a run-off or majority-vote process if no viable candidate emerges following prolonged electoral stalemates, but often a consensus candidate emerges quickly (the historical average time to select a Pope, after the Conclave begins, is 22 days).

May the Holy Father rest in peace after an honorable lifetime of service to God, his Church and its people.