Overview

• Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, at age 88 following a stroke, after battling bilateral pneumonia earlier this year.
• Cardinal Kevin Farrell is serving as interim head of the Holy See until a new pope is elected in a conclave expected in mid-May.
• The funeral mass will take place on April 26 in St. Peter’s Square, with world leaders including Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, and Volodymyr Zelensky expected to attend.
• In keeping with his wishes, Pope Francis will be buried simply in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a departure from centuries of tradition.
• The late pontiff is remembered for his 12-year tenure marked by advocacy for migrants, environmental stewardship, and Church reform, alongside his personal humility.