Pope Francis, an energetic reformer who inspired widespread devotion from Catholics but riled traditionalists, died on Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88.
The Argentine pontiff, leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013, spent 38 days being treated for double pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli hospital before seeming to recover, leaving the facility on March 23.
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Symphony of Mercy will take place tomorrow, April 26
128,000 people had already paid their respects to Pope Francis
FRENCH NUN BREAKS PROTOCOL TO STAY CLOSE TO POPE FRANCIS’ BODY DURING CEREMONY
Visitors and mourners queue to access St Peter’s Basilica to pay their respects to the late Pope Francis, in The Vatican on April 24, 2025. The Vatican on April 24 said some 61,000 people had already paid their respects to Pope Francis, whose body is lying in state in St Peter’s Basilica ahead of his funeral. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)
Pope’s funeral: Vatican braces for huge crowds
The Vatican will make final preparations Friday for Pope Francis’s funeral as the last of the huge crowds of mourners file through St Peter’s Basilica to view his open coffin.
Many of the 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs attending Saturday’s ceremony in St Peter’s Square, who include US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, are expected to arrive on Friday in Rome.
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Mourners and visitors pay their respects to late Pope Francis as he lies in state in a coffin at St Peter’s Basilica in The Vatican, on April 24, 2025. The Vatican on April 24 said some 61,000 people had already paid their respects to Pope Francis, whose body is lying in state in St Peter’s Basilica ahead of his funeral. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)
Pope Francis: What to know about his death
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 after a papacy of 12 years. Here are the key things to know about the death of the Argentine pontiff, the first from Latin America.
The timing and cause of Pope Francis’ death
Francis died Monday morning at the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived at the Vatican. His death came almost a month after he returned there following his treatment in hospital for double pneumonia. The Vatican said Francis died after having a stroke.
Mourning the pontiff
St. Francis has been lying in state in a simple wooden coffin inside St. Peter’s Basilica. He is dressed in red liturgical vestments and his hands are folded, holding a rosary.
Interest in paying respects to him is high. The Vatican kept the doors open all night due to higher-than-expected turnout from mourners across the globe, closing the basilica for just an hour and a half Thursday morning for cleaning.
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Pope Francis waves as he arrives in Tacloban city, central Philippines, on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015. A rain-drenched but lively crowd wearing yellow and white raincoats welcomed Pope Francis in the typhoon-ravage central Philippine city early Saturday, chanting “Papa Francesco, Viva il Papa!” (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
Yolanda victims remember day Pope Francis brought hope
TACLOBAN, Philippines – Fourteen months after the deadliest storm in Philippine history, Pope Francis stood on a rain-swept stage to deliver a message of hope to the battered town of Tacloban.
(FILES) Cardinals attend a mass at the St Peter’s basilica before the start of the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. The death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025 sets in motion centuries-old traditions which will culminate in the election by cardinals of a new pontiff. Under a system originating in the 13th century, the conclave sees cardinals aged under 80 meet in private to choose the next pope from among their peers. They are sworn to absolute secrecy, under pain of ex-communication, during the voting. (Photo by Gabriel BOUYS / AFP)
Papal conclave: A painstaking voting process
During the upcoming conclave, the cardinal-electors will gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect a successor to Pope Francis in a highly-secretive process that could take several days, potentially longer.
Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the process:
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(FILES) A picture shows St Peter’s basilica at night on the eve of the conclave on March 11, 2013 at the Vatican. Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025 aged 88, a day after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, the Vatican said in a statement. (Photo by Gabriel BOUYS / AFP)
Electing a new pope: glossary of key terms
Cardinals will take part in a conclave in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope.
Here is a brief glossary of the event’s key terms:
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This photo taken and handout on April 23, 2025 by The Vatican Media shows Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni paying her respects to Pope Francis at St Peter’s basilica in The Vatican. (Photo by Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP)
Pope Francis now in St. Peter’s Basilica
Thousands of people filed through the central aisle of St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their final respects to Pope Francis on Wednesday, the start of three days of public viewing ahead of the pontiff’s funeral.
Throngs of ordinary faithful made their way slowly to the 16th-century basilica’s main altar, where Francis’ simple wooden casket was perched on a slight ramp, as four Swiss Guards stood at attention. Over the coming days, tens of thousands of people are expected to pass through the basilica, which is staying open until midnight to accommodate them.
Cardinals, meanwhile, met in private to finalize preparations for Saturday’s funeral and plan the conclave to elect Francis’ successor.
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Pope Francis death: Marcos declares 4 days of national mourning
President Ferdinand Marcos on Wednesday declared four days of national mourning in the Philippines, Asia’s Catholic bastion, over the death of Pope Francis.
The Philippine flag will be flown at half-mast at all government buildings and installations, Marcos said in a presidential proclamation that declared a “period of National Mourning effective immediately until the burial of Pope Francis”.
“The passing of Pope Francis is a moment of profound sorrow for the Catholic Church and for the Filipino people, who recognise him as a global leader of compassion and a tireless advocate for peace, justice and human dignity,” the president said as he signed Proclamation 871, declaring the period of national mourning in the country following the pontiff’s death.
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This photo taken on April 21, 2025 and handout on April 22, 2025 by The Vatican Media shows Pope Francis in his open coffin in The Vatican. (Photo by Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP
Pope Francis funeral: World leaders set to attend as cardinals gather
VATICAN CITY, Holy See — Cardinals were meeting Tuesday to set the date for Pope Francis’s funeral, as world leaders from US President Donald Trump to Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky said they would attend to honour the Catholic leader.
Tributes for Pope Francis from Filipino celebrities pour on social media.
Pope Francis: Filipino celebrities pay tribute – ‘May he rest in peace’
Local celebrities have taken to social media to express their grief over the passing of the Argentine pontiff.
Pope Francis, who became the head of the Catholic Church in March 2013, was a globally influential figure noted for his humility and compassion. During his tenure, he worked to make the Catholic Church more inclusive.
The Pope’s last public appearance was at Saint Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, April 20.
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A faithful Catholic prays at Basilica San Jose de Flores in Buenos Aires on April 21, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis in the Vatican. The Basilica de San Jose de Flores was the church where Pope Francis was inspired to consecrate his life to God and the Catholic Church. | Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP)
Pope Francis, a boy: School nuns say ‘One isn’t born a saint’
At the school in Buenos Aires where he started his religious journey at the young age of 5, the nuns remember the boy who would later become Pope Francis as “mischievous.”
A boisterous child, he played football with his friends in the courtyard, and sprinted up and down the marble stairs.
“They say he was rather mischievous,” recounted Teresa Rovira, a teacher at the Nuestra Senora de la Misericordia kindergarten where then-Jorge Bergoglio enrolled in the early 1940s.
“One is not born a saint, one becomes a saint,” the nun chortled.
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This combination of photos shows, top row from left, Cardinal Peter Erdo, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, middle row from left, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Robert Prevost, Cardinal Robert Sarah, and bottom row from left, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, Cardinal Luis Tagle and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi. (AP Photo)
The next pope? Which cardinals are seen as contenders?
A popular saying in Vatican circles is that if you “enter a conclave as pope, you leave as a cardinal.”
It implies the sacred and secretive process is no popularity contest or campaign, but rather the divinely inspired election of Christ’s Vicar on Earth by the princes of the church.
Still, there are always front-runners, known as “papabile,” who have at least some of the qualities considered necessary to be pope — much like those depicted in last year’s Oscar-nominated film “Conclave.”
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Pope Francis (R) wears a plastic poncho as he waves to well wishers after a mass in Tacloban on January 17, 2015. Pope Francis will spend an emotional day in the Philippines on January 17 with survivors of a catastrophic super typhoon that claimed thousands of lives, highlighting his concern over climate change. AFP PHOTO
House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday paid tribute to Pope Francis following the pontiff’s death, remembering him as a compassionate leader who served as a “guiding light in times of darkness” for many Filipinos.
“It is with a heavy heart that I join the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, whom we in Leyte — and across the Philippines — lovingly called ‘Lolo Kiko’,” Romualdez said in a statement.
Romualdez recalled the Pope’s visit to Tacloban in 2015, just over a year after Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) devastated Eastern Visayas region, saying it showed the pontiff’s compassion and solidarity with those suffering.
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Faithful leave lighted candles next to a portrait of the late Pope Francis at the entrance of the Buenos Aires Cathedral on April 21, 2025. Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, aged 88, a day after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, the Vatican said in a statement. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)
Pope Francis: What to know about his death
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. Here are the key things to know about the death of the Argentine pontiff, history’s first from Latin America, who presided over the Catholic Church for more than 12 years.
The death of Francis was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Irish-born Vatican camerlengo, a position that will be important in the coming weeks as he takes charge of the administration of the Holy See until a new pope is elected.
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Pope Francis hands a football that is to be used for a friendly tribute “match for peace” in memory of late Argentinian player Diego Maradona, on November 14, 2022 at Paul-VI hall in The Vatican. The match is organised by “WePlayForPeace”, a foundation set up by Pope Francis. | Photo by Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP
The Pope with ‘two left feet’ who loved the ‘beautiful game’
His predecessor loved Mozart, but Pope Francis’s passion was football — for him “the most beautiful game” and also a vehicle to educate and spread peace.
From Argentine compatriots Lionel Messi and the late Diego Maradona to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gianluigi Buffon, Francis received the greatest stars of football at the Vatican, signing dozens of shirts and balls from around the world.
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Pope Francis’ death: Tagle among possible successors
(FILES) This handout picture released by the Press office shows cardinals chanting the Latin hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus” (“Come Creator Spirit”) in the Sistine Chapel before the start of the conclave at the Vatican on March 12, 2013. Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025 aged 88, a day after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, the Vatican said in a statement. |Photo by OSSERVATORE ROMANO / AFP
The April 21 death of Pope Francis triggered a period of mourning in the Catholic Church, but also kick-started the race for his successor.
Whether diplomats, theologians, mediators or Vatican insiders, here are the cardinals who are among the potential favorites to become the next pope, divided by region.
This list included Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Manila. It is, however, by no means exhaustive and Francis’s successor could well be someone else.
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Faithful gather at St. Peter’s to remember Pope Francis
A hush reigned over the normally boisterous St. Peter’s Square on Monday as the faithful and the curious alike gathered at the seat of Catholicism to mark the death of Pope Francis.
Catholic priests and nuns in groups of threes of fours bowed their heads to pray, twirling their rosaries under the midday sun just hours after the Vatican announced the 88-year-old pontiff’s passing.
Even the groups of tourists, who continued to enter the massive St Peter’s Basilica, appeared quiet and downcast.
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Palma urges faithful to always remember Pope Francis’ legacy
Always remember Papa Francisco’s legacy of leading the Catholic church with humility and care for the poor and marginalized.
This was Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma’s message as he joined the over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide in mourning the passing of Pope Francis.
“Iyahang pagka-Santo Papa perme mapahinumdum sa gugma sa Diyos, sa atong paghatag sa importansya sa pamilya ug sa mga layo sa simbahan ug mga marginalized,” Palma said in a video message published shortly after the Vatican announced the pontiff’s death.
(His being a Pope is a constant reminder of the love of God, the need to give importance to family and those who are distant from the church and the marginalized.)
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Putin: Pope Francis was a ‘defender’ of ‘humanism and justice’
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican on July 4, 2019. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday hailed the late Pope Francis as a “defender” of “humanism and justice”, and praised his efforts to promote dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches.
Putin said Francis, who died on Monday, was a “wise” religious leader, “statesman” and “consistent defender of the high values of humanism and justice”, in a letter to the Vatican published by the Kremlin.
“During all the years of his pontificate, he actively promoted dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, as well as constructive interaction between Russia and the Holy See,” Putin added.
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Pope Francis has died, Vatican says
Pope Francis died on Monday aged 88, a day after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, the Vatican said in a statement.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in the statement published by the Vatican on its Telegram channel.
“This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT) the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church.”
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EXPLAINER: What happens after the pope dies?
The death of Pope Francis on Monday, April 21, 2025, sets in motion centuries-old traditions which will culminate in the election by cardinals of a new pontiff — but with a few changes.
Click this link to know how the process unfolds.
Remembering Pope Francis: Here are some of his key quotes
Here are some key quotes worth remembering from Pope Francis’s papacy.
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Pope Francis: Key dates in his life
Here are some key dates in the life of Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and Latin American pope.
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12 years of Pope Francis: Reform, social justice and tackling abuse
During his 12 years as head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis was a voice for compassion and peace, reformed the Vatican government and took action against clerical child abuse.
As we remember the life of the pope, here are some of the main achievements of the Argentine pontiff and the opposition he faced — and what he left undone.
Click this link to read full story.
Message of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma
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