Pope Francis Death News Live Updates: Vatican sets out nine days of mourning for pope from Saturday

The Vatican announced plans for the traditional nine days of mourning for Pope Francis, which will start on Saturday, the day of his funeral.

There will be daily events at St Peter's Basilica for the so-called "novemdiales", which will last until Sunday May 4.

Vast crowds of mourners gathered at St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday to bid farewell to Pope Francis, as his body lay in state for a three-day period. The queue to enter the church extended beyond four hours by afternoon, with pilgrims and tourists forming an extensive line around St Peter's Square to view the pontiff's open coffin.

Portuguese medical student Francisca Antunes, aged 21, expressed her sentiments after visiting the basilica: "We wanted to say thank you to one of the most humble popes." She told AFP, "It felt really good to be in there."

Simonetta Marini, a 67-year-old Roman retiree, noted that the large turnout reflected the widespread appreciation for Francis's inclusive approach and his advocacy for society's disadvantaged, which guided the Catholic Church towards a more compassionate direction.
"I came to say a last goodbye to a great man. He stood for the people," Marini remarked.

Francis, who became the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics in 2013 and was known for his reformist approach, passed away on Monday at 88 years old. His death followed a stroke, occurring nearly a month after his discharge from hospital, where he had received five weeks of treatment for pneumonia.

The pope's body rests in a red-lined wooden coffin, adorned in papal attire - a red chasuble, white mitre and black shoes - with a rosary interwoven between his fingers. The coffin will remain on a low platform before the Altar of the Confession, beneath Michelangelo's magnificent dome, until Friday evening at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT), prior to Saturday's funeral.

The passing of a pope initiates an age-old protocol for selecting his successor, encompassing sacred vows, needle-pierced voting papers and smoke signals - white or black - indicating whether the cardinals have selected a new leader for the global Catholic population of 1.3 billion.

Following Pope Francis' passing at age 88 on Monday, his remains were transported to St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing before Saturday's funeral, which will host international dignitaries. As per his request, Francis will be laid to rest in an understated underground vault at St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome.

The subsequent phase involves the confidential conclave to select the next pope. The proceedings commence and conclude with Latin proclamations: "Extra omnes" ("Everyone out") dismisses all non-voting cardinals from the Sistine Chapel where voting occurs, whilst "Accepto" ("I accept") is declared by the successful cardinal upon achieving the mandatory two-thirds majority. Throughout this period, the cardinals assembled under Michelangelo's ceiling must maintain complete isolation from the external world.

The solemn toll of St Peter’s Basilica’s bells marked the moment Pope Francis’s body was transferred for public viewing on Wednesday morning. Cardinals, prelates, and Swiss Guards formed a dignified procession, moving through the grand archway gates into the piazza.

A choir’s chant echoed across the square as the late pontiff was escorted to St Peter’s Basilica, where he will lie in state ahead of Saturday’s funeral.

Crowds of mourners watched in silence as Pope Francis’s casket passed through St Peter’s Square on Wednesday, following the same path he had taken just days earlier during his final popemobile ride on Easter Sunday. The last-minute Easter appearance, made despite his frail health, turned out to be an unexpected farewell, one the pontiff chose after being assured he was strong enough.

US Vice President JD Vance, currently visiting India, confirmed he won’t attend the funeral but remembered meeting Pope Francis on Easter Sunday. “I didn’t realise how sick he was,” he said, describing Francis as “a great pastor.”

Vance added that the brief encounter would remain etched in his memory.

In Taiwan, members of the Filipino migrant community gathered at St Christopher’s Church to mourn Pope Francis. Luz Fernandez, a housekeeper, said the pope’s concern for migrants like her made his death personal. “This is a church for people who live away from loved ones,” she said. “He will be missed.” Candles were lit as migrants paid tribute to Francis’s compassion and leadership.

St Peter’s bells tolled on Wednesday morning as Pope Francis’s body was transferred from the Vatican hotel to the basilica.

A solemn procession of cardinals, prelates and Swiss Guards escorted the late pontiff to the site where he will lie in state. The moment was marked by chants from a choir as the procession slowly passed through the archway gates into the piazza.

US President Donald Trump will depart Washington on Friday morning to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome, confirmed White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Trump is expected to return Saturday evening after the funeral services conclude. The White House has not yet released details about his schedule, possible meetings with world leaders, or who will accompany him in the US delegation. More information is expected to follow.

Just one day before his death, Pope Francis made his final public appearance during Easter celebrations.

He had some reservations about looping through the square packed with 50,000 faithful, Vatican News reported on Tuesday, but overcame them and circled St Peter’s Square in his popemobile. He was thankful that he had greeted the crowd. He died the next morning.

Cardinals under 80 have been called back to Rome to elect Pope Francis’s successor.

The conclave will begin between 15 to 20 days after the pope’s death. A general congregation of cardinals met on Tuesday to finalise funeral plans, with a second session led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell scheduled for today.

Italian interior minister Matteo Piantedosi said Italy expects 150–170 foreign delegations and tens of thousands of mourners for Saturday’s funeral. A five-day national mourning has been declared.

The funeral will be attended by world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and Britain’s Prince William.

Following Saturday’s funeral, Pope Francis’s coffin will be taken to the papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, his favourite church in Rome.

His coffin will be interred in the ground with a simple inscription: Franciscus.

He becomes the first pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican.

Pope Francis’s coffin will be transferred to St Peter’s Basilica at 9:00 am (local time) on Wednesday for three days of lying in state. The public can pay respects from 11:00 am (local time) until midnight on Wednesday, 7:00 am (local time) to midnight on Thursday, and 7:00 am to 7:00 pm (local time) on Friday.

His funeral will be held on Saturday in the Baroque plaza in front of the basilica.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) expressed condolences on the death of Pope Francis. Sunil Ambekar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of the Nagpur-based organisation, shared a message on social media platform X via RSS.org’s official account.

“We express our deep condolences over the sad demise of Pope Francis. He served as head of the Catholics for long years. Let's pray to God to give proper place to the departed soul,” he wrote.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, along with First Lady Olena Zelenska, confirmed his advisor Dmytro Lytvyn.

Zelenskyy paid tribute to the late pontiff, recalling his prayers for peace in Ukraine. In 2024, Pope Francis drew criticism in Ukraine for urging Kyiv to consider negotiations with Russia, remarks that stirred controversy amid the ongoing war.

Pope Francis was thankful that he was able to greet throngs of people in St. Peter’s Square on Easter, a day before he died, though he initially had some doubts given his poor health, Vatican News reported Tuesday.

The Argentine pontiff, who had been recovering after being hospitalized for five weeks with pneumonia, died Monday at age 88. He made his last public appearance Sunday, delivering a blessing and looping around Vatican City's famous square in his popemobile.

Francis initially had doubts about the ride, Vatican News reported. “Do you think I can manage it?’’ the pope asked Massimiliano Strappetti, his personal health care assistant, according to the news agency.

The pope was reassured, and he stopped to reach out to people, especially children, as he was driven through the crowd of 50,000 — the first time since his release from the hospital that he had mixed with the faithful at large. Afterward, Francis told Strappetti, “Thank you for bringing me back to the square,” Vatican News said.

The Assam government on Tuesday announced a two-day state mourning as a mark of respect on the passing away of Pope Francis. Francis, who was the first non-European Pope in nearly 1,300 years, died on Easter Monday. He was 88. The Pope was diagnosed with double pneumonia.

"As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, the Government of Assam has decided that there will be two days state mourning on April 22 and 23," an official order said.

Additionally, one day's state mourning will be observed on the day of the funeral, it added.

"On the day of mourning, the National Flag will be flown at half-mast throughout Assam on all buildings where the National Flag is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment during the period of state mourning," the order stated.

Pope Francis’ funeral has been set for Saturday at 10 am in St Peter’s Square, and a viewing of his body will begin on Wednesday in St. Peter’s Basilica, days after the popular pontiff died at age 88.

History’s first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated many conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change. He last appeared in public on Sunday with an Easter blessing and popemobile tour through a cheering crowd in St. Peter’s Square.

Cardinals met at the Vatican on Tuesday to plan the conclave to elect his successor and to make other decisions about running the Catholic Church.

Italy's government on Tuesday declared five days of national mourning following the death of Pope Francis -- longer than the three days observed for pope John Paul II in 2005.

The mourning will last until Saturday, when the 88-year-old Catholic leader's funeral will be held outside St Peter's Basilica, civil protection minister Nello Musumeci told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

Few moments in Pope Francis' papacy better exemplify his understanding of climate change and the need to address it than the rain-soaked Mass he celebrated in Tacloban, Philippines, in 2015. Wearing one of the cheap plastic yellow ponchos that were handed out to the faithful, Francis experienced first-hand the type of freak, extreme storms that scientists blame on global warming and are increasingly striking vulnerable, low-lying islands.

He had travelled to Tacloban, on the island of Leyte, to comfort survivors of one of the strongest recorded tropical cyclones, Typhoon Haiyan. The 2013 storm killed more than 7,300 people, flattened villages and displaced about 5 million residents.

But with another storm approaching Tacloban two years later, Francis had to cut short his visit to get off the island.

"So many of you have lost everything. I don't know what to tell you," Francis told the crowd in Tacloban's muddy airport field as the wind nearly toppled candlesticks on the altar.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born in Buenos Aires, never set foot in his homeland after becoming Pope Francis in 2013. That left many of the faithful in Argentina feeling puzzled and snubbed by the world's first Latin American pope.

Francis, who died Monday, said little about his decision to steer clear of Argentina. But Vatican insiders and interlocutors said the pontiff wanted to avoid getting swept up in the polarising politics that characterized his country.

"It's sad, because we should have been proud to have an Argentine pope," said Ardina Aragon, 94, a longtime friend and neighbour from the middle-class neighbourhood of Flores where Francis was born in 1936. "I think there were political factors that influenced him."

Francis, a devotee of soccer, tango and other signature aspects of Argentine culture, was known to have tense relationships with some of his country's leaders. His ideological clash with current far-right President Javier Milei, who took office in 2023, created even more challenges.

EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa will attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome, their spokesperson informed on Monday. The heads of the European Commission and European Council will join other world leaders to mark the death of the Argentine pontiff.

In one of his final acts, Pope Francis cleared the way for Papua New Guinea to get its first saint -- an anti-polygamy preacher who died in prison during Japan's World War II occupation.

The late pontiff confided to religious leaders in the Pacific nation that he wanted to personally oversee the canonisation of "martyr" Peter To Rot.

Now, that honour will fall to his successor.

"He told me that he wanted to canonise Peter To Rot himself," said Tomas Ravaioli, an Argentine missionary in Papua New Guinea who met with the pope when he visited in September last year.

"He said that To Rot is the kind of saint that people need in this moment. You know, he's not a priest or a bishop -- he's a normal man," Ravaioli told AFP.

dvocating for migrants was one of Pope Francis' top priorities. His papacy saw a refugee crisis in the Mediterranean, skyrocketing numbers of migrants in the Americas, and declining public empathy that led to increasingly restrictive policies around the world.

Francis repeatedly took up the plight of migrants, from bringing asylum-seekers to the Vatican with him from overcrowded island camps to denouncing border initiatives of US President Donald Trump. On the day before his death, Francis briefly met with Vice President JD Vance, with whom he had tangled long-distance over deportation plans.

Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88, carried a lifelong passion for soccer that remained evident throughout his papacy. A devoted supporter of Argentine club San Lorenzo, he often spoke of football as “the most beautiful game in the world.”

But for Francis, soccer was more than just a pastime. He often drew on the sport to reflect on values such as camaraderie, fellowship and teamwork — qualities he believed were increasingly missing in today’s individualistic society.

“Soccer is a team sport. You can’t have fun alone,” he told a gathering of Italian youth, football players and coaches at the Vatican in 2019. “And if it’s lived like that, it can do good for your mind and your heart in a society that is exasperated by subjectivism.”

Like many Argentine children, Jorge Mario Bergoglio grew up with a football at his feet. In his childhood neighbourhood of Flores, Buenos Aires, he would spend hours playing with friends on sidewalks or dusty local pitches known as potreros.

Yet, by his own admission, he was never particularly skilled. In his recently published autobiography Hope, Francis revealed that his poor performance on the pitch even earned him the nickname “hard foot.”

On behalf of the Tamil Nadu Government, Ministers SM Nasar and Dr. S. Inigo Irudayaraj will attend Pope Francis's funeral, says the state govt. The Tamil Nadu Assembly today passed an obituary resolution paying tribute to the late Pope Francis.

Cardinals have decided that the public viewing of Pope Francis will begin Wednesday in St. Peter’s Basilica, after his casket is taken by procession from the Vatican hotel where he lived.

His funeral has been set for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.

Cardinals meeting for the first time since Francis’ death on Monday set the date for the funeral and also determined that the pope’s body would go on public viewing on Wednesday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the funeral of Pope Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, a source at the presidency told AFP on Tuesday.
"The office of the president is awaiting the date of the Pope's burial and preparing the president's visit to Rome to bid farewell to the pontiff," the source said.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday said he would attend the funeral of Pope Francis, who died a day earlier aged 88.
"We will attend the pope's funeral as we should," he told reporters. The Vatican has not yet announced a date for the funeral.

Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday Easter, has given a shockwave across the globe. Before he said his final goodbye, US vice-president JD Vance was among the few dignitaries who met him for the last time.

JD Vance was in Vatican city last week and met the pope on Easter Sunday. After entering the room, he gently took the pope's hand and said, “Hello, so good to see you."According to a video released by the Vatican, Francis was sitting in a wheelchair. Expressing his concern, Vance said, “I know you’ve not been feeling great, but it’s good to see you in better health". A priest serving as a translator spoke for the pope.He was bestowed with several gifts including a Vatican tie, rosaries and chocolate eggs for his children. Embracing the pope and thanking him for the gift, Vance posed for a photo with him just before bidding farewell.

The meeting with Pope Francis was not originally on Vance’s schedule. According to sources, he was hoping for a brief visit to inquire about his health. On Saturday, he also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin for what the Vatican called “an exchange of opinions.” While the Catholic church under Francis has strongly supported migrant rights, Vance and President Donald Trump have pushed for stricter immigration measures.

The office of the pope had long lost its ability to directly influence the fate of rulers. But even now, it’s a remarkably successful influencer. Here’s why:

➤ By the beginning of the 20th century, the papacy had become a sovereign spiritual institution with a small territorial base — the Vatican — but with vast diplomatic and cultural influence.

➤ Popes since then have operated as heads of a global religion and a micro-state, leveraging soft power and international relationships.
WORLD WAR I

➤ Pope Benedict XV (1914 to 1922) famously described the World War I as “the suicide of civilised Europe” and a “senseless slaughter”.

➤ He organised humanitarian efforts, turning the Vatican into a hub of peace oriented diplomacy.

➤ He was condemned by both sides: the Allies branded him pro-German, while the Germans/Austrians thought him pro-Allied.

➤ This was arguably evidence that he was truly neutral.

WORLD WAR II
➤ World War II was perhaps the greatest test of the papacy’s political and moral leadership.
➤ Pius XII maintained public impartiality between the Allied and Axis powers.
➤ His policies were heavily influenced by a profound fear of communism.
➤ He refrained from a direct, public condemnation of Hitler and Holocaust.
➤ He feared that a direct confrontation would provoke the Nazis to retaliate even more brutally.
➤ Behind the scenes, he did take action to save lives. He was hailed by some Jewish and Allied leaders for quietly aiding Jews. But some critics dubbed him “Hitler’s Pope”.

COLD WAR
➤ During the Cold War, the papacy emerged as an influential player, especially due to its strong anticommunist stance.
➤ Pope Pius XII quickly shifted focus to the threat of Soviet communism filling the void in war-torn Europe.
➤ He opposed the spread of communism both theologically and politically.
➤ He endorsed the idea of a united Europe (foreshadowing the European Union) as a bulwark of Christian civilisation.
➤ In many Western European countries, the Pope played a direct political role in opposing communism.
➤ The Polish Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyła, 1978–2005) dramatically amplified the papacy’s political involvement.
➤ His impact on the fall of communism in Europe was profound.
➤ During the 1980s, he gave moral support to the ‘Solidarity’ trade union movement in Poland, which set the stage for the rise of Solidarity and a growing resistance to communism.
➤ By 1989, as communist govts fell across Eastern Europe, even Mikhail Gorbachev acknowledged that John Paul II’s spiritual inspiration was a factor in making those peaceful revolutions possible.
➤ A Soviet diplomat reportedly quipped, “The Pope won this war”.


BEYOND THE WARS
➤ As the 20th century progressed, the papacy’s influence increasingly took the form of global moral leadership and diplomatic mediation.
➤ Popes became active on the world stage through travels, speeches at international fora, and behind-the scenes diplomacy.
➤ The papal govt now maintains one of the largest diplomatic networks in the world, with formal relations with over 180 countries.
➤ Popes leveraged this status to weigh in on issues of peace and justice.
➤ Pope Francis was instrumental in the 2014 restoration of US–Cuba relations.
➤ Popes today use their platform to shape global debates on climate change, migration, ending wars (the Vatican has offered to mediate in conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war).
➤ Popes often visit warzones or send peace envoys.

The Government of Kerala has declared a three-day mourning period on the demise of Pope Francis. Two-day state mourning to be observed on April 22 and 23. One day's State Mourning on the day of the funeral; the date of the funeral will be intimated separately.

While new popes traditionally take on a new name, it is not a must for office. Followed for over 1,000 years, the tradition is mainly symbolic, denoting...

Spiritual Rebirth & A New Mission
Becoming pope is seen as a new beginning in the service of the church. It echoes how biblical figures (from Simon to Peter and Saul to Paul) took on new names when assuming new roles. Popes adopt a name that represents their papacy’s vision.

Continuity & Inspiration
Many popes choose names of previous figures they admire or wish to emulate. The Argentine Pope Francis took his from St Francis of Assisi, symbolising humility and care for the poor.

Breaking From Personal Identity
The pope is no longer a private individual, but the leader of the global Catholic Church. His new name signifies a detachment from his former personal and national identity.

Historical Precedent
The first pope to change his name was Pope John II (533–535). His birth name was Mercurius, named after a pagan Roman god, so he adopted the name of John, a Christian saint. The tradition has continued since then and all popes since the 16th century have served under a new name.

1. Vacancy of the Papal Throne (Sede Vacante)
● Begins when the reigning pope dies or resigns (as in the case of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013).
● Camerlengo (Cardinal Chamberlain) takes charge of Vatican’s administration until a new pope is elected.
● The College of Cardinals convenes to discuss the upcoming conclave.

2. Conclave
●The cardinal-electors (under the age of 80) assemble to vote to elect the new pope in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.
● Before entering, the cardinals swear an oath of secrecy.
● All external communication is cut off.

3. Voting Process
●The election follows a two-thirds majority rule.
● Each cardinal writes their preferred candidate’s name on a paper ballot.
● The ballots are then counted, and the votes are read aloud.
● If no candidate receives the required two-thirds majority, ballots are burned with a chemical to produce black smoke, signaling an unsuccessful vote.
● If a pope is elected, the ballots are burned to produce white smoke, signaling a successful election.

4. Duration of the Election
● The process can last anywhere from a day to several weeks, depending on how quickly a consensus is reached.
● Historically, some elections took months or even years (In 1268-1271, it took nearly 3 years to elect Pope Gregory X).
● In modern times, elections are usually completed within a few days.

5. Announcement of the New Pope
● After the election, the pope accepts the position and chooses a papal name.
● The Cardinal Protodeacon announces “Habemus Papam” (“We have a Pope”) from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.
● The new pope gives his first blessing, known as Urbi et Orbi (To the City and the World).

Evolution of the process
● The early popes (1st to 4th centuries) were chosen by local clergy and Roman Christian communities.
● By 11th century, the College of Cardinals became responsible for electing the pope.
● The conclave system was introduced in 1274 by Pope Gregory X to speed up the process.
● Modern refinements include changes made by Pope John Paul II (1996) and Pope Benedict XVI (2007).

American Catholics mourned the loss of Pope Francis on Monday, with many remembering a pontiff who they said had made the Roman Catholic Church more welcoming and compassionate by his words and his demeanor, though some wished he had done even more to change the institution.

On the day after Easter, many made their way to early services to grieve the loss of a spiritual leader whose health they had closely followed, praying for his recovery during and after a lengthy hospitalization. They had rejoiced in seeing him on television greeting the faithful at St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday, only to wake up and find that he was gone.

Losing him Monday was heartbreaking, said Chris Nealon, who stopped to pray at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York at the end of his shift on a security job. "We are all made in God's image, and he reinforced that," said Nealon, a Navy veteran and a former police officer.

He praised Francis' calls to end anti-gay sentiments and his push to promote world peace.

John Martinez wept as he sat in solace in one of the wooden pews at St. Patrick's. He does not agree with all of the church's teachings, he said, but Francis was "one for the people."

Francis tried to maintain the Vatican’s traditional diplomatic neutrality when it came to Ukraine, and that led to criticism for what some called an unclear position on Russia’s invasion of its neighbor.

He at times expressed apparent sympathy with Russia’s rationale for invading Ukraine — like when he said NATO was “barking at Russia’s door” with its eastward enlargement. And last year he called on Ukraine to show the “courage” to negotiate peace, which seemed to suggest it should capitulate to Russian aggression.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in a condolence message praised Francis as a “consistent defender of the high values of humanism and justice.”

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said his country was grieving and recalled how the pope often prayed for peace in Ukraine.

Ambassadors from Ireland and Guatemala mourned the passing of Pope Francis, who died at 88 following a stroke and heart failure at his residence in the Vatican. Ireland’s Ambassador to India, Kevin Kelly, described him as “a world leader,” saying, “It’s a sad day, but we can all be inspired by Pope Francis and what he did in this world.” Guatemala’s Ambassador, Omar Castaneda Solares, called the Pope “a messenger of peace, love, and compassion,” adding that his legacy “will transcend borders and generations.” The Vatican said additional health issues included respiratory failure, high blood pressure, and type II diabetes.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed his condolences on Monday following the death of Pope Francis, describing the pontiff as a strong advocate for environmental protection and global diplomacy in pursuit of peace. In a statement issued late Monday, Ishiba said, "The demise of Pope Francis is not only a great loss for the people of Vatican and Catholics, but also for the international community."

US President Donald Trump has announced he and First Lady Melania Trump will travel to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 on Monday."Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

US President Donald Trump announced Monday that he and first lady Melania Trump would travel to Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis. The announcement was made on Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, where he stated, "Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!" The late pontiff had previously been a vocal critic of Trump's immigration policies, but the former president’s message reflected a tone of respect and intention to pay tribute during the upcoming funeral.

US President Donald Trump has ordered the American flag to be flown at half-staff nationwide in honour of Pope Francis. In a post shared on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump cited his constitutional authority to issue the directive, stating it would apply to all federal buildings, military posts, naval stations, and US territories. The flags will remain lowered until sunset on the day of Pope Francis’s interment, as a mark of national respect for the pontiff.

The Vatican has announced that the cause of Pope Francis' death has been identified as a cerebral stroke which led to a coma and irreversible heart failure.

"Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, issued the official certification," the official Vatican News website reported. Following the certification, the Holy See Press Office released the report on Monday evening, it added.

According to the medical report, the 88-year-old pontiff had a prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes.

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa extended heartfelt condolences to Catholics in South Africa and around the world following the passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88. The Pope died early on Monday at his Vatican residence, just hours after delivering his last Easter address. Ramaphosa described the Pope as a spiritual leader who sought to unite humanity through core human values and emphasized inclusion, equality, and care for marginalized groups and the environment. He reflected on the Pope’s extraordinary life and humble rise to the Holy See, expressing hope that his passing would bring the Church and international community closer together, especially during the period of Easter reflection.

Saudi Arabia's rulers sent their condolences after Pope Francis died on Monday, adding to the flood of tributes from leaders around the world following the Catholic leader's passing. "King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister sent cables of condolences on the death of Pope Francis, head of the Vatican State," read a statement from the official Saudi Press Agency. The messages from Saudi leaders reflect a global outpouring of sympathy and respect for the Pope's life and legacy.

Pope Francis passed away on Monday morning from a stroke that led to a coma and ultimately resulted in what doctors described as “irreversible” heart failure, as confirmed by his death certificate released by the Vatican. The 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church had been discharged just weeks earlier after spending over a month in hospital being treated for double pneumonia. His health had been closely monitored since then, with the Vatican previously assuring the public of his gradual recovery.