The sad news was announced by Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell in an official statemnet reading: “At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of 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 Tribune.″
Where will Pope Francis be buried?
According to the BBC, Pope Francis is expected to be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of the four key papal basilicas located in Rome.
This would make him the first Pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican.
What are the plans for Pope Francis’s funeral?
Before his sad passing, the Pope approved plans to make the process of a papal funeral less elaborate and complex.
Previous holy leaders were buried in three nested coffins made of cypress, lead and oak.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. pic.twitter.com/jUIkbplVi2
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) April 21, 2025
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However, Pope Francis has opted for a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc, according to the BBC.
He has also done away with the tradition of placing the Pope’s body on a raised platform (known as a catafalque) in St Peter’s Basilica for public viewing.
Instead, mourners will be invited to come and pay their respects while the body remains in the coffin with the lid removed.
