Cardinals are set to convene a meeting on Tuesday in the Vatican to plan Pope Francis’ funeral with world leaders, including Donald Trump, due to attend the ceremony.
Pope Francis, 88, died following a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, the Vatican has said.
In his final testament, the pontiff expressed his wish to be buried at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, and not at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican like many previous pontiffs.
The will specified that Francis wanted to be buried "in the ground, without particular decoration" but with the inscription of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.
King Charles and Mr Trump led the tributes for the 88-year-old, who was the head of the Catholic church for 12 years.
The pope was hospitalised for several weeks in February, after suffering from a bout of double pneumonia. He returned to the Vatican in mid-March to recover.
Pope Francis, originally from Argentina and the first pope from Latin America, led the 1.4 billion-member church since 2013.
Pope has died, Vatican announces
- Vatican releases photos of late Pope in open casket
- Cardinals to meet to plan pope Francis' funeral
- Pope died of stroke, Vatican says
- The Vatican’s full official statement
'Death is not the end but the start of something': Pope Francis
09:00
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Steffie Banatvala
Italian outlets have shared unpublished work written by Pope Francis just before his death.
“Death is not the end but the start of something,” the pontiff wrote in the preface of a book by Cardinal Angelo Scola which is due to be published soon.
“It’s a new beginning, as the title (of the book, Waiting for a new beginning. Reflections on old age) wisely suggests because eternal life, which is something those who love life experience on Earth in their everyday occupations, is to start something that will never end.”
“And it is precisely for this reason that it is a 'new' beginning, because we will experience something that we have never fully experienced: eternity,” he added.
Photos show Pope in open coffin
08:45
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Steffie Banatvala
The Vatican has released images of Pope Francis in his open coffin, adorned in a red robe with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary in his hand.
The images were captured in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, his residence at the Vatican.
Macron to attend Pope's funeral
08:30
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Steffie Banatvala
French President Emmanuel Macron has said he will attend the Pope's funeral, according the local media.
Hundreds of thousands of worshippers and dozens of world leaders are also expected to attend.
The funeral date is expected to be announced today, as Cardinals meet this morning.
What can we expect from today's meeting among Cardinals?
08:18
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Holly Evans
Cardinals have begun arriving at the gate of Saint’Uffizio to make initial arrangements in preparation for Pope Francis's funeral, as well as the conclave to select his successor.
In this first summit, only the most urgent decisions will be made, such as:
- When the Pope's body will be moved to St Peter's Basilica to be exposed "for the homage of the faithful"
- The date and time of the funeral – according to the apostolic constitution, it should take place between “the fourth and sixth day after death”. That would put the date of the funeral between Friday 25 April and Sunday 27 April, with multiple Italian outlets reporting the service is likely to take place on the Saturday
- Where the 135 Cardinals travelling to the Vatican to take part in the conclave will be lodged – usually the House of St Martha
- Discuss funeral expenses and any preparations Francis had requested for his funeral
- When the conclave will be held where the next pope will be selected
In pictures: Mourners gather outside the Vatican
08:04
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Holly Evans
Pontiff’s final wishes and place of burial
07:46
,
Holly Evans
Pope Francis has decreed in his will that he be buried in a simple underground tomb in St Mary Major Basilica.
The will specified the late pontiff wanted to be buried "in the ground, without particular decoration" but with the inscription of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.
In his final testament, the pope expressed his wish to be buried in Rome, and not at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican like many previous pontiffs.
Read the full article here:
Anonymous benefactor to pay for Pope Francis funeral
07:35
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Holly Evans
An anonymous benefactor will pay for the cost of Pope Francis’s funeral, the Vatican has said.
“The expenses for the preparation of my burial will be covered by the sum of the benefactor that I have arranged,” Francis’s will said.
Cardinals will meet on Tuesday morning for the first time since the Pope died to confirm the details of his funeral.
Those currently in Rome have been invited to meet at 8am BST (9am local time) to commence planning, according to the BBC.
India declares 3 days of mourning
07:29
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Holly Evans
The Indian flag flew at half-staff on Tuesday at all government buildings as the country observed three days of mourning as a mark of the respect for Pope Francis.
The Indian flag will be flown half-staff on government buildings across the country for the next two days, as well as on the day of the pontiff's funeral, the Home Ministry said in a statement.
Live: Cardinals gather to discuss Pope Francis funeral plans
07:16
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Shweta Sharma
Australian election campaign paused after pope's death
07:15
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Shweta Sharma
Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton paused their election campaigns this morning in the wake of Pope Francis's death.
Mr Albanese held a press conference to confirm he is cancelling a number of events and said “the first Pope from the southern hemisphere was close to the people of Australia”.
He announced that Commonwealth flags would fly at half-mast for the rest of the day.
It was after Mr Dutton said the time was not for "big politicking" and confirming the suspension of his own campaign.
East Timor starts seven days of mourning for Pope Francis' death
06:57
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Shweta Sharma
Timor-Leste, a tiny southeast Asian nation also known as East Timor where some 97 per cent of the population is Catholic, has begun seven days of national mourning to mark the death of Pope Francis.
People gathered on Tuesday for prayers and flags were flying at half-mast across the tropical island nation.
Francis last year became the first pope to visit the country in more than 30 years during his Asia tour, following in the footsteps of John Paul II, whose own visit gave Timor-Leste's movement for independence from Indonesia a historic boost and rare prominence on the global stage.
"It is the duty of the state, on behalf of the Timorese people, to demonstrate a deep sense of gratitude and recognition, paying a deserved tribute to this great leader of the Catholic Church," a statement from the country's Council of Ministers said in announcing the mourning period on Tuesday.
More than 97 per cent of Timor-Leste is Catholic, making it one of the largest majorities in the world outside the Vatican, and, along with the Philippines, it is one of only two predominantly Christian countries in Asia.
More than 600,000 people – or nearly half its 1.3 million population – turned out to see Francis last year during his 12-day visit to Asia and Oceania.
Pope Francis’s moral leadership on climate crisis
06:36
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Shweta Sharma
Pope Francis emerged as one of the most influential moral voices on the climate crisis in the 21st century.
His 12 years of papacy marked a turning point in how the Catholic Church – and by extension, billions around the world – engage with issues of environmental justice, sustainability, and the moral dimensions of climate change.
He passed on the simple message of the social consequences of human influence on the planet as world leaders deliberated the technical and economic aspects of the crisis.
He said humankind was turning the glorious creation of God into a “polluted wasteland full of debris, desolation and filth”, and said the cause of the climate crisis was the people’s “selfish and boundless thirst for power”.
Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, subtitled “On Care for Our Common Home,” is widely regarded as his most significant contribution to global climate discourse.
Pope Francis has been an important voice of the 2010s & 2020s. He has promoted a humanist vision of the global management of common goods. Laudato si is a founding text of Christian commitment to climate action, which has inspired & marked a new generation of committed people 1/2 https://t.co/WvW1UswZHH
— Laurence Tubiana (@LaurenceTubiana) April 21, 2025
In it, he reframed the environmental crisis as not just a scientific or political issue, but a deeply moral and spiritual challenge. He calls on humanity to hear “both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor,” linking ecological degradation to global inequality.
He declared a global climate emergency in 2019 and held a conference on “the economics of the common good” in his final months.
Laurence Tubiana, chief of the European Climate Foundation who is also one of the architects of the 2015 Paris agreement, called the pope an “important voice” in a social media post.“By clearly setting out the causes of the crisis we are experiencing, [he] reminded us who the fight against the climate crisis is aimed at: humanity as a whole.”
Barbados prime minister Mia Mottley described Pope Francis as a “beacon of global moral and strategic leadership,” crediting him with offering guidance and inspiration during the “dark and desolate days” of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“His voice comforted and inspired many. His hands led him to places where others dared not go, and his heart knew no boundaries. His humour and his laughter were not only infectious but calming. Let us, each and every day, see, hear, and feel people – to fight the globalisation of indifference.”
Landmarks around the world marked the death of Pope
05:58
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Shweta Sharma
Iconic buildings around the world remembered Pope Francis following his death on Monday.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris went dark in remembrance, and the Vatican's St Peter's Square became a gathering place for mourners.
The Empire State Building in New York was illuminated in memory of Pope Francis on Monday night.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia flew its flags at half-mast, as did several state buildings around the world, including the White House in the US and the presidential office in Taiwan.
And in his hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis' portrait was projected on the Obelisk.
Who could be the next Pope?
05:26
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Shweta Sharma
The death of Pope Francis on Monday sets in motion a centuries-old ritual involving sacred oaths, performed by the cardinals who will elect his successor.
The process of electing a new Pope is shrouded in secrecy, with cardinals forbidden from communicating with the outside world what happens in the conclave, which takes place within the frescoed walls of the Sistine Chapel.
The pontiff’s age, along with his health concerns in recent years – including his recent complex lung infection – led to questions being asked well before his death about who would succeed him.
Here we break down what we know about the favourites – and those with an outside chance.
Read pope's spiritual testament in his own words
04:44
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Shweta Sharma
Pope Francis wrote his spiritual testament in 2022 which was unsealed following his death.
In the document dated 29 June 2022 the pope expressed his wish to be buried at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
In the name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen.
As I sense the approaching twilight of my earthly life, and with firm hope in eternal life, I wish to set out my final wishes solely regarding the place of my burial.
Throughout my life, and during my ministry as a priest and bishop, I have always entrusted myself to the Mother of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary. For this reason, I ask that my mortal remains rest - awaiting the day of the Resurrection - in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
I wish my final earthly journey to end precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary, where I would always stop to pray at the beginning and end of every Apostolic Journey, confidently entrusting my intentions to the Immaculate Mother, and giving thanks for her gentle and maternal care.
I ask that my tomb be prepared in the burial niche in the side aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the Basilica, as shown in the attached plan.
The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.
The cost of preparing the burial will be covered by a sum provided by a benefactor, which I have arranged to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. I have given the necessary instructions regarding this to Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Basilica.
May the Lord grant a fitting reward to all those who have loved me and who continue to pray for me. The suffering that has marked the final part of my life, I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and for fraternity among peoples.
The Vatican’s full official statement
04:30
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Shweta Sharma
On Monday, bells tolled in church towers across Rome after senior Vatican officials announced Pope Francis’ death.
Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said: “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.’’
Pope died of stroke and cardiac arrest, Vatican says
04:25
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Shweta Sharma
Pope Francis' died following a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, the Vatican has said.
A statement released by the Holy See said his death was confirmed using an echocardiogram.
In his final testament, the pope expressed his wish to be buried at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome.
The Vatican said the Pope had also requested a simple burial — “in the ground, without particular decoration” — with a plain inscription bearing only the name “Franciscus”.
The Vatican added the pontiff had arranged for an unnamed benefactor to cover the costs of his burial.
Cardinals to meet to plan pope Francis' funeral
04:17
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Shweta Sharma
Cardinals are set to meet on Tuesday to plan Pope Francis' funeral, which leaders from around the world will attend ahead of a conclave next month to elect a new head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Francis, 88, died unexpectedly on Monday after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest, the Vatican said, ending an often turbulent reign in which he repeatedly clashed with traditionalists and championed the poor and marginalised.
All cardinals currently in Rome have been invited to gather in the Vatican at 9 am local time, where they were expected to make funeral plans.
The gathering of cardinals will also review the day-to-day running of the Church in the period before a new pope is elected.
The pontiff spent five weeks in hospital earlier this year for double pneumonia. But he returned to his Vatican home almost a month ago and had seemed to be recovering, appearing in St Peter's Square on Easter Sunday.
His sudden death set in motion ancient rituals, as the 1.4-billion-member Church started the transition from one pope to another, including the breaking of the pope's "Fisherman's Ring" and lead seal so they cannot be used by anyone else.
"We want to thank the Lord for the gifts he has given to the whole Church with the apostolic ministry of Pope Francis, a pilgrim of hope," said Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, who led prayers in St Peter's Square on Monday evening.
A conclave to choose a new pope normally takes place 15 to 20 days after the death of a pontiff, meaning it should not start before 6 May. Some 135 cardinals are eligible to participate in the highly secretive ballot which can stretch over days.
Meet Kevin Farrell - the cardinal currently in charge of the Vatican
04:01
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Shweta Sharma
As the Catholic Church enters the “sede vacante”, Cardinal Kevin Farrell is overseeing the Holy See’s administrative and financial duties in absence of a pope.
Cardinal Farrell was born on 2 September 1947 in Dublin. He became an ordained priest in 1978, serving for almost 40 years before Francis made him a cardinal in 2016.
He is the Camerlengo of the Church, meaning that he is in charge while the conclave takes place.
Donald Trump to attend pope's funeral in Vatican
04:00
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Shweta Sharma
US president Donald Trump said he and his wife Melania Trump will travel to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis.
“Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!" Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The US president clashed repeatedly with the pope over their differences on the issue of immigration.
Among other heads of state set to attend were Javier Milei, president of Francis' native Argentina.
Pope Francis needed two months rest before returning to work, doctors said
03:59
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Shweta Sharma
Doctors told Pope Francis that he needed two months’ rest before he returned to work, after he spent more than five weeks in hospital for a bout of double pneumonia.
Despite the orders of doctors, the pope kept working right to the end.
The day before his death, Francis made his first prolonged public appearance since February, as he entered St. Peter’s Square in a white popemobile to greet cheering crowds.
For only the second time since leaving hospital on 23 March, the pope met on Sunday with foreign leaders as he welcomed US vice president JD Vance for a brief encounter.
Vance wrote on X: “I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill”, adding: “May God rest his soul.”
He also briefly met with Croatian prime minister Andrej Plenovic and his family on Sunday.
Could there be an American pope? Here are the US frontrunners for pontiff
03:57
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Shweta Sharma
There are currently nine US cardinals who are expected to take part in the 2025 conclave, according to the list of cardinal electors.
They are: Cardinal Robert Prevost, Cardinal Blase J Cupich, Cardinal Timothy M Dolan, Cardinal Robert W McElroy, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Cardinal Wilton Daniel Gregory, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley and Cardinal Raymond Burke.
With US cardinals eligible to vote in the conclave out of 138, the mathematical possibility of the next pope being American is just shy of six per cent.
