Pope Francis live updates: Vatican may extend hours to pay respects due to turnout
The funeral for Pope Francis will be held on Saturday, the Vatican said.
Pope Francis, whose time as head of the Catholic Church was noted for humility and outreach efforts to people of disparate backgrounds and faiths, has died at 88, the Vatican said.
The pontiff’s funeral is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, according to the Vatican. Francis’ death on Monday came after a series of worsening health problems, including a diagnosis of double pneumonia that put him in the hospital for more than a month earlier this year.
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General congregation of cardinals to begin Tuesday
The dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, sent a letter to all cardinals — electors and non — on Monday, summoning them to the general congregation, which will begin on Tuesday at 9 a.m. local time.
The general congregation will take place in the Synod Hall inside Vatican City.
The cardinals at this congregation should take decisions on things like dates for Pope Francis’ funeral and the start of the conclave.
Countries declare periods of mourning for Pope Francis’ death
After the passing of Pope Francis, governments and leaders across the globe joined Catholics and non-Catholics alike in mourning.
Periods of mourning range from three days (Chile, Dominican Republic, Lebanon and Spain) up to nine days, which is the traditional period of mourning at the Vatican, known as Novemdiales, during which daily masses and ceremonies are being held in memory of the pope.
Other countries that have announced periods of mourning include Argentina, Brazil and East Timor, all of which extend to one week.
Some governments, including those of the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, have ordered flags to be flown at half-mast.
Empire State Building to honor Pope Francis
The Empire State Building in New York City will light up in gold and white on Monday night in honor of Pope Francis.
Pope Francis’ personal residence sealed shut
Photos captured the moment the door to Pope Francis’ personal residence was closed and sealed shut on Monday.
Trump going to Pope Francis’ funeral
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will attend Pope Francis’ funeral, the president announced in a post on Truth Social.
“We look forward to being there!” Trump wrote.
Pope Francis, Trump clashed for years over treatment of migrants
President Donald Trump on Monday offered brief condolences over the passing of Pope Francis, but the two men clashed repeatedly, including as far back as Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, over how to treat migrants.
One day before Trump was inaugurated for his second term, Pope Francis commented on his plan to carry out mass deportations.
“If it is true, it will be a disgrace, because it makes the poor wretches who have nothing pay the bill for the imbalance. It won’t do. This is not the way to solve things,” he said.
Vatican releases Pope Francis’ will
The Vatican released Pope Francis’ will, which notes his desire to be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
“The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus,” he said.
Pope Francis’ death certificate released
Pope Francis’ death certificate, released by the Vatican, said he died in his apartment at 7:35 a.m. from cerebral stroke, coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.
Cerebral stroke means there was a loss of blood flow to the brain. An irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse indicates he had a sudden failure of the heart to maintain blood flow throughout the body.
He was also affected by “previous episode of acute respiratory failure in bilateral multimicrobial pneumonia, multiple bronchiectasis, arterial hypertension and type II diabetes,” according to the death certificate.
Rosary prayer service underway in St. Peter’s Square
A rosary prayer service is underway in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
Ahead of the first reading, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of Saint Peter’s Basilica, read an introduction. He noted how Pope Francis asked people to pray for him so many times, and now, “we want to pray for him.”
“We want to thank the Lord for the gifts he has given to the entire Church with the apostolic ministry of Pope Francis, a pilgrim of hope who does not disappoint, and we want to entrust him to the Merciful Father, in communion with Mary, Queen of Heaven, and through the intercession of the apostle Peter,” he said.
Harris calls Pope Francis ‘a visionary leader’
Former Vice President Kamala Harris in a statement called Pope Francis “a visionary leader who dedicated his life to service and justice.”
“He encouraged us to protect our planet, championed a more inclusive church, and cared for all of God’s children — especially the most vulnerable among us,” Harris said. “Doug and I pray for His Holiness, and we join people around the world in mourning his loss.”
Clintons remember Pope Francis’ ‘remarkable life and legacy’
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement they are mourning Pope Francis’ death as well as celebrating “his remarkable life and legacy: promoting peace, economic inclusion, and social justice; and fighting climate change, particularly its threat to the lives and livelihoods of the world’s poorest citizens.”
“I was blessed to have met with His Holiness,” the statement said, “and Hillary and I were honored when he took part in the Clinton Global Initiative 2023 Annual Meeting, where he spoke about his children’s hospital helping young people injured in Ukraine and invited the CGI community to pitch in and help, which they have.”
“In taking the name of St. Francis, he made it clear that he would endeavor to embrace the entire world, including those of other faiths, those whom the church hadn’t always welcomed, and anyone whose daily struggles reflected the enduring truth of our common humanity,” the Clintons said. “By his own example, he taught that every human being’s personal search — even a Pope’s — for a purposeful life was meaningful and important, and that power and politics must always make room for compassion and coexistence.”
Trump says he doesn’t know yet if he’ll attend Pope Francis’ funeral
President Donald Trump said he doesn’t know yet if he’ll attend the funeral for Pope Francis.
“I don’t know yet,” Trump told reporters at the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday. “We’re going to be briefed on it right now — we’re going to the Oval Office.”
“I just have to look at the timing. We just lowered the flags throughout the country,” he added.
When asked how he would remember Pope Francis’ legacy, Trump responded, “He’s a very good man who loved the world. And he especially loved people who were having a hard time. And that’s good with me.”
Trump orders flags to fly at half-staff
President Donald Trump has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Pope Francis, according to the White House.
“He was a good man, worked hard. He loved the world,” Trump said at the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday.
The order covers flags at the White House, “at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions” until sunset on the day of Pope Francis’ interment, according to a statement. The order also covers flags at all U.S. Embassies, legations, consular offices and other facilities abroad, including military facilities.
Pence calls Pope Francis a ‘good and godly man’
Former Vice President Mike Pence shared his condolences over the passing of Pope Francis in a social media post on Monday, calling him a “good and godly man.”
“The time we spent with His Holiness at the Vatican in 2020 was one of our greatest honors of my life,” Pence wrote.
Zelenskyy: ‘He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement that Pope Francis “knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity.”
“He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy said, as the war between Ukraine and Russia continues. “We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support.”
Rosary prayer service to be held in St. Peter’s Square
A rosary prayer service will be held in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City at 1:30 p.m. ET Monday.
Argentina announces 7 days of mourning
Pope Francis will be honored with seven days of mourning in his home country of Argentina, according to the Argentinian president’s spokesperson, Manuel Adorni.
Francis is the first pope from Latin America.
The Spanish government has declared three days of official mourning.
Vance reacts to Pope Francis’ death 1 day after their meeting
Vice President JD Vance is reacting to the death of Pope Francis one day after they met at the Vatican on Easter Sunday.
The vice president on Sunday shared photos of his meeting with Pope Francis, writing on social media at the time, “I am grateful for his invitation to meet, and I pray for his good health.”
Early Monday, Vance wrote on social media, “I just [learned] of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill.”
“I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful,” Vance said, linking out to the address.
Biden on Pope Francis: ‘I am better for having known him’
Former President Joe Biden in a statement praised Pope Francis’ work and advocacy on issues such as poverty and climate.
“He promoted equity and an end to poverty and suffering across the globe. And above all, he was a Pope for everyone,” Biden said.
Biden, a devout Catholic, in January awarded Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, which is the highest civilian honor a president can award.
Pope Francis “will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him,” Biden said.
Pope Francis ‘made us want to be better people,’ Obama says
Former President Barack Obama called Pope Francis “the rare leader who made us want to be better people.”
“In his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound — embracing the sick, ministering to the homeless, washing the feet of young prisoners — he shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another,” Obama said in a statement on Monday.
“Today, Michelle and I mourn with everyone around the world — Catholic and non-Catholic alike — who drew strength and inspiration from the Pope’s example,” Obama said.
Karoline Leavitt: ‘A solemn day for Catholics around the world’
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News that today is “a solemn day for Catholics around the world.”
Pope Francis’ death comes one day after his brief audience with Vice President JD Vance at the Vatican on Easter Sunday.
Leavitt said Vance’s team told her “how grateful they were for the opportunity to have met with the Pope.”
“He touched millions of lives throughout his tenure as the head of the Catholic Church,” she said, adding, “we are praying for all those who loved the Pope and believed in him.”
It’s not yet clear whether President Donald Trump would travel for the services honoring the life of Pope Francis.
“No travel plans at this time — doesn’t mean it’s not happening. I just don’t have anything to share,” Leavitt told ABC News.
