Death of Pope Francis

On the final day of official mourning for the death of Pope Francis, the late pontiff was remembered as someone who was determined to live out the mission entrusted to him and serve others, even when his health deteriorated.

In his address to over 200 people who attended the Meeting of Moderators of Associations of the Faithful, Ecclesial Movements and New Communities on June 13, 2024, Pope Francis shared his hopes for the synodal movement in the years ahead.

The most extraordinary aspect of the funeral Mass for Pope Francis was its astonishingly beautiful ordinariness.

Members of the College of Cardinals had a chance to take a quick bus tour through Rome on their way to visit the tomb of Pope Francis, who wanted to be buried in a Marian basilica three and a half miles from the Vatican.

The English translation of the prepared text of the homily, delivered in Italian by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, for the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 26, 2025.

Pilgrims of all ages made what one archbishop called "an absolute pivot," as they find themselves in Rome for a papal funeral, rather than the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis.

Pope Francis was "a Pope among the people, with an open heart toward everyone," said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, as he presided over the funeral of the Pope, who died April 21 at the age of 88.

After the casket bearing Pope Francis' body was placed in St. Peter's Basilica, tens of thousands of mourners lined up to pay their respects.

In the first nine hours that Pope Francis' body had lain in state in St. Peter's Basilica, more than 19,000 people stood in line for hours in the sun to pray and pay homage to him.

It was his voice, posture of humility and determination to listen that made indelible impressions on Indigenous peoples as they observed Pope Francis during his historical penitential pilgrimage to Canada.