The latest on the death of Pope Francis

Our live coverage on the death of Pope Francis has concluded for the day. Please scroll through the posts below for the latest developments.

Carlos Castillo, Archbishop of Lima, talks about the conclave to elect the successor of Pope Francis with reporters on Monday in Lima, Peru.

A pope is normally chosen through a series of closed-door votes carried out by a conclave after hearing from the candidates and reviewing their profiles, explained Archbishop of Lima Carlos Castillo, one of the cardinals who will participate in the upcoming deliberations.

Pope Francis was elected because he “best summarized all the debates that took place” during the process, he said.

After reviewing the candidates, the conclave begins the voting process, which can go into several rounds.

“Normally, the first vote is scattered because each one votes for the one they think or feel is best,” Castillo said, comparing this first step to a pre-election.

“Then, on that basis, a second vote is held if the first one does not reach” a two-thirds majority, he said.

The cycle can be repeated several times until a pope is selected.

“That happened with Bergoglio,” he said, referring to Pope Francis by his given name. “It took five times, five votes. On the other hand, with Benedict (XVI) it was just one.”

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, stands near the body of Pope Francis, placed in an open coffin during the rite of the declaration of death in Santa Marta residence at the Vatican, on Tuesday..

CNN’s Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb described his “very moving” experience of seeing Pope Francis lying in state at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta residence, where he lived during his papacy.

Soares also spoke to pope biographer and CNN Vatican Analyst Elisabetta Pique about her relationship with the late pontiff. “The pope would still call me every birthday,” she said.

Pique, who worked as a war correspondent, said Francis would call her every two or three days when she was in Ukraine.

“He would respect me also professionally as a woman that is a journalist and that goes to wars,” she said.

The journalist was also invited to see the pope lying in state and described the experience as incredibly emotional. “It was very moving, of course. I think I cried more than when my parents died,” she said.

In his will, Pope Francis declared his wish to be buried in a simple tomb in the ground at Rome’s Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, a significant Catholic church and papal basilica.

Seven other pontiffs are buried there — but he will be the first in over a century to choose this burial site outside the Vatican.

CNN’s Christopher Lamb explains:

Video Ad Feedback

CNN correspondent explains why Pope Francis won’t be buried at the Vatican

01:14 • Source: CNN

CNN correspondent explains why Pope Francis won’t be buried at the Vatican

01:14

Here’s where the basilica is located:

Pope Francis attends an event in 2014.

Before his death on Easter Monday, Pope Francis called for an end to the “cycle of violence and retribution” in the Middle East, in an op-ed article published posthumously in The Parliament magazine today.

Titled “The bloodshed in Palestine/Israel must end,” the pontiff urged peace across the Holy Land, a place he says has seen “atrocious wars, resulting in a river of blood that does not cease.”

Francis, who had long criticized Israel’s war in Gaza and frequently called for a ceasefire in the enclave, described war as an “illusion,” bringing death and destruction rather than a solution.

“Unfortunately, all too often in human history, those who propose peace are looked upon as weak, while those who arm themselves to the teeth are presented with the allure of being strong and in charge. This is also a great illusion,” he wrote.

Pope Francis reiterated his support for a two-state solution, “which envisions a state of Israel and a state of Palestine living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition,” he said.

Pope Francis waves to journalists as he walks beside Cuba's President Raul Castro after his arrival at the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana in February 2016.

Former Cuban President Raul Castro published a rare personal message lauding Pope Francis in the island’s main state-run newspaper today, where he wrote that he would carry the late pontiff “forever in my heart.”

The unlikely friendship between the Cuban strongman and the leader of the Catholic Church came about in 2014 as the pope encouraged United States and Cuban officials to repair diplomatic relations that were broken off for more than five decades at the start of the Cuban revolution.

At Pope Francis’ urging, negotiators even held secret talks at the Vatican before announcing a diplomatic breakthrough that allowed the Cold War-era foes to reopen embassies and restore full diplomatic ties.

While Castro never publicly spoke of rejoining the church again, he accompanied Pope Francis throughout his 10-day trip across Cuba in 2015.

Francis faced frequent criticism that his closeness with Castro caused him to overlook Cuba’s alleged human rights abuses. Pushed to condemn the Cuban government’s mass arrests of protesters in 2021, the pope admitted to feeling conflicted. “I confess, I have a human relationship with Raul Castro,” Francis told reporters.

U.S. President Donald Trump, and first lady Melania Trump walk down steps to view the White House Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on Monday in Washington, DC.

The Vatican has announced the funeral for Pope Francis will take place on Saturday.

These are some of the international leaders who will be in attendance:

And here’s who has said they will not be attending:

We’ll update this post with the latest from world leaders throughout the day.

Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, speaks with members of the public in Tallinn on March 20 during a visit to Estonia.

Prince William, the Prince of Wales, will attend the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday on behalf of his father King Charles, Kensington Palace said today.

Pope Francis holds the pastoral staff as he leaves after celebrating a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican in January 2014.

“Death is not the end of everything, but the beginning of something.”

Those are the parting words from Pope Francis in a text set to be released on Thursday.

Italy’s national broadcaster, RAI, reported the text will be published as a preface to a book by Cardinal Angelo Scola, but it was written in February by Francis.

Father Gabriel Romanelli, Parish Priest of the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family, censes during Christmas Eve mass at the church in the Zaytoun neighbourhood of Gaza City on December 24, 2024, amid the ongoing war in the besieged Palestinian territory between Israel and Hamas.

Argentine priest Gabriel Romanelli of the Holy Family Church in Gaza said he spoke with Pope Francis on Holy Saturday, and the pontiff extended his blessings and prayers for peace.

In a Spanish-language video posted to his YouTube channel, Romanelli said:

The Catholic church — the only one in the Gaza Strip — has served as a de facto shelter for its community of worshipers, along with some Muslims, during Israeli military campaigns in Gaza. Subdued celebrations of Easter and Christmas have been taking place.

Romanelli recalled that Pope Francis kept the war in Gaza as one of his priorities until his last days, and that even in his final public address, he called for peace.

The pontiff’s last public address on Easter Sunday, as read aloud by an aide, expressed his concern for Gaza and especially its Christian community, “where the terrible conflict continues to cause death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation.”

A faithful takes photos of a portrait of the late Pope Francis displayed at the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Cathedral on Monday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

A number of Latin American countries have declared days of national mourning in honor of the passing of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church’s first Latin American pontiff.

Pope Francis waves to the faithful upon his arrival for the weekly general audience at St. Peter's square in the Vatican on November 21, 2018.

Among Pope Francis’ final words was a “thank you” to his personal nurse who helped the pontiff surprise crowds with a brief tour in his popemobile in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, according to Vatican media.

“Thank you for bringing me back to the Square,” Francis said to Massimiliano Strappetti, the nurse who stayed by the pope’s side during his five-week bout of double pneumonia, the Vatican’s news outlet reported Tuesday.

After saving the pope’s life by suggesting colon surgery, Strappetti had served as Francis’ personal healthcare assistant since 2022. Strappetti was with the pope during his long recent stay at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital and continued to care for the pontiff as he recovered at his Casa Santa Marta residence.

Before the Easter Sunday service, Strappetti took the pope to review the route he would take to the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. After the service, Francis wanted to offer “one last, meaningful surprise to the 50,000 faithful” who had gathered in the square, the Vatican said.

But the infirm Francis was hesitant, asking Strappetti: “Do you think I can manage it?”

After touring the square and embracing members of the crowd, the Vatican said a “tired but content” Francis thanked Strappetti.

Overnight, however, the pope’s health began to deteriorate. Early Monday morning, he made a “gesture of farewell” to Strappetti while lying in his bed in his papal residence, the Vatican said. After falling into a coma, Francis died a “discreet death, almost sudden, without long suffering or public alarm.”

A woman talks to a priest inside Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Italy, today.

Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was far busier than usual today, as hundreds of people gathered for Mass at the site where Pope Francis will ultimately be laid to rest. Breaking with tradition, the late pontiff has requested a “simple” tomb in the basilica, also known as St. Mary Major, which lies several miles from the Vatican.

A day after the pope’s death, the atmosphere inside the church was emotional but not somber. The afternoon Mass, conducted in German, opened with a brass quintet and bright organ music. Sunshine poured in through high windows, lighting up the golden ceiling of the nave.

Outside, worshipers described feeling both moved and awestruck after visiting the church that Francis was known to have a strong connection to.

Victoria Ferreira, who traveled to Rome from Brazil for Easter, said she had already visited the basilica — but it felt different after the pontiff’s death, adding that “it was very emotional.”

Ferreira, 33, told CNN that she hopes the next pope will carry on the same path as Francis. “He filled us with love, with empathy, with hope,” she said. “And I think we need to, more than ever, have this in our mind and in our actions, to be like him.”

People exit the St Peter's Square at the Vatican, today.

The body of Pope Francis will be transferred from his papal residence to St. Peter’s Basilica at 9 a.m. local time (3 a.m. ET), where he will lie in state before his funeral on Saturday, according to the Vatican.

For those who wish to visit the pope and pay their respects, the basilica will be open at the following times:

A worshipper prays next to the altar after attending a mass at the Church of the Assumption in Lagos on April 21. African leaders praised the "legacy of compassion" and "commitment to inclusivity" of Pope Francis as they joined global mourning over his death on Monday.

Pope Francis is being mourned in Africa, home to some 281 million Catholics, and the world’s fastest-growing Catholic population in recent years.

African leaders have paid tribute to the pontiff, with Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who chairs the African Union Commission, reminiscing about Francis’ “courageous engagement” with the continent, where he amplified “the voices of the voiceless,” advocated “peace and reconciliation” in war-riven nations, and stood “in solidarity with those affected by conflict and poverty.”

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the late pope “advanced a world view of inclusion, equality, and care for marginalized individuals and groups.”

However, the pope’s relationship with the continent was tested last year after he endorsed blessings for gay couples, triggering a fiery pushback from African bishops who criticized it as inappropriate.

Pope Francis visited 10 African nations during his papacy, with the most recent visit being to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan in 2023.

Africa harbors 20% of the globe’s Catholic population. According to the Vatican, 9 million new Catholic converts were recorded on the continent between 2022 and 2023.

Cardinals walk at St Peter's Square today.

Four out of five of the cardinals who will soon select the next pontiff owe their positions to Pope Francis.

Of the 135 members of the College of Cardinals under the age of 80 who are eligible, Pope Francis installed 108. That means 80% of the votes cast in the upcoming conclave will be cast by cardinals elevated by Francis.

During his 12-year papacy, Francis appointed more than 20 cardinals from countries that had never previously had a cardinal, nearly all from developing countries, including Mongolia, Laos, Papua New Guinea and Mali.

Because many of the cardinals appointed by previous popes turned 80 during Francis’ papacy, this “generation shift in the age of the cardinals” allowed him to appoint new members from different parts of the world, Timoney said.

Timoney added that the conversations between cardinals ahead of the conclave are often crucial in determining the next pope.

“That’s where the cardinals come together. They talk about: ‘What are our priorities? What do we really need to be doing as a church?’” she said.

Given how many cardinals owe their positions to Francis, some have speculated that this could lead the conclave to appoint a successor that will continue to follow his pastoral priorities.

Pope Francis's body is laid out in state inside his private chapel at the Vatican on Monday. From left, Dean Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, an unidentified bishop, Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, Master of Ceremonies Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli, Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell, and Master of Ceremonies Lubomir Welnitz.

A congregation of cardinals will meet at 5 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET) tomorrow following the death of Pope Francis, the Vatican said.

After the death of a pontiff, cardinals travel to Rome from all over the world to choose the next leader of the Catholic Church.

They have already chosen three assistants to the Vatican’s acting head (or camerlengo) Kevin Farrell: Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko and Cardinal Fabio Baggio.

Parolin will celebrate mass on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, in the Vatican. He was one of the cardinals who met US Vice President JD Vance this past Saturday.

During his 12 years leading the Catholic Church, Pope Francis often spoke about immigration and climate change.

Listen to some of the comments he made:

‘A pope open to change:’ Hear Pope Francis speak on climate change and immigration

07:19 • Source: CNN

‘A pope open to change:’ Hear Pope Francis speak on climate change and immigration

07:19

Alexandrine Facq was leading a group of students on a trip from France to Italy when the news broke of Pope Francis’ death. They had traveled for a different religious occasion: the canonization of saints, which was supposed to take place next Sunday. But upon hearing of Francis’ passing, “a lot of students were crying.”

For her, Francis symbolized “love” and “fraternity” Facq told CNN, and “the hope of love.”

Another man, Mohamed Rehman, was visiting from New York but went to the square in the Vatican City following the death of the pontiff. Rehman is Muslim, but said he respected Francis because he always spoke of peace “not only for one faith” but for all religions and countries around the world.

Pictures of Blessed Carlo Acutis, an adolescent who spent his life spreading his faith online, earning the moniker "God's Influencer", are printed on souvenirs in a shop of Assisi where Acutis is on display, on April 3.

The canonization of Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, has been postponed due to Pope Francis’ funeral being held on Saturday, according to the Vatican.

Acutis was scheduled to be canonized Sunday. The Vatican did not immediately announce a new date for his canonization.

Acutis, a video-gaming Italian boy who died from leukemia in 2016 at the age of 15, was renowned for using his computing skills to spread awareness of the Catholic faith, earning him the nickname “God’s influencer.”

During his short life, Acutis set up a website documenting reports of miracles taking place across the world. Since his death, the church has attributed two miracles to him.