Overview

• Pope Francis, the first non-European Pope in nearly 1,300 years, passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 following a brief illness caused by double pneumonia.
• The Government of India declared a three-day state mourning in his honor, a rare gesture for a foreign religious leader, reflecting his global influence and legacy.
• The third and final day of mourning will be observed on April 26, 2025, coinciding with the Pope's funeral mass and burial in Rome.
• As part of the mourning, the Indian national flag will be flown at half-mast across all government buildings on April 26, and no official entertainment will take place that day.
• Pope Francis’s papacy was characterized by a strong focus on interfaith dialogue and social justice, resonating deeply with communities in India and worldwide.