Pope Francis Has Died – A Time to Grieve, Pray, and Prepare

A sad day has dawned for Catholics around the world. On April 21, 2025, the Church received the sorrowful news of the passing of Pope Francis, the 266th successor of Saint Peter and the first Latin American pontiff. He died peacefully at the age of 88 in his residence at the Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City.

The death of Pope Francis marks the beginning of a sacred time for the Catholic Church — a time of mourning, reflection, and prayer. With the seat of Peter now vacant, the Church enters into a profound moment of both sorrow and significance.

As the bells of Saint Peter’s toll and the news spreads across the globe, Catholics from every nation gather in spirit and in prayer. Though the Church must now begin the preparations for the election of a new Pope, we are first called to pause — to honour the life of our Holy Father, to commend his soul to God’s mercy, and to recognise the depth of his service to Christ and His Church.

In this moment of loss, we experience the universal human experience of grief: sorrow, reflection, emptiness, and perhaps even fear of what comes next. But the Christian does not grieve without hope (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13). Our faith tells us that death is not the end. It is the passage from time into eternity, from service into glory, from earthly burdens into divine rest.

Sede Vacante

The news of Pope Francis’s death has sent waves of sorrow through the Church and the world. As Catholics, we are not merely grieving the end of a papacy — we are mourning the passing of a spiritual father. The man who, for over a decade, guided the Barque of Peter through turbulent waters with compassion, humility, and courage.

Death, though inevitable, never ceases to shake us. No matter how prepared we believe we are, the loss of someone beloved — especially someone who has shaped the life of the Church in profound ways — leaves an ache in the heart. The sadness that follows is not simply a reaction to absence, but a testament to love. We mourn because we have loved.

The death of a pope is unlike any other moment in the life of the Church. It is deeply personal and yet profoundly ecclesial. For many, it feels like the loss of a grandfather or a spiritual companion — someone who prayed for us, spoke to our hearts, and represented Christ on earth. Pope Francis was not perfect — no human is — but he was faithful, and his love for the Church was unwavering.

With the death of Pope Francis, the Church now enters a unique and solemn period known as the Sede Vacante — Latin for “the vacant seat.” It refers to the absence of a reigning pope and signals a temporary state of transition in the governance of the Catholic Church. During this time, the Chair of Saint Peter is empty, and the usual activities of papal authority are paused. The papal coat of arms is altered to remove the keys and tiara, and the Apostolic Palace is sealed until a new pope is chosen.

This period is not one of powerlessness, but of prayerful watchfulness. The government of the Church continues under the guidance of the College of Cardinals, who handle only the ordinary affairs necessary to maintain the life of the Church — but they are prohibited from making decisions that are reserved to the pope alone. The camerlengo, a cardinal appointed by the late pope, oversees the administration of the Holy See during the Sede Vacante. His duties include verifying the pope’s death, sealing his private apartments, and organising the funeral rites, the Novendiales, and the eventual conclave.

The Church is not just an institution. It is a family. And in every family, the death of a father is a moment to pause, to remember, to weep, and to pray. Before the conclave begins, before the world speculates on the next successor, we must let ourselves be still in this holy sorrow — a sorrow that honours the life and soul of Pope Francis, who bore the weight of the Petrine office with humility and grace.

Now is the time to light candles, attend Holy Masses for the repose of his soul, and reflect with gratitude on his service. In grief, we remember who we are: not a people of despair, but of resurrection. Pope Francis dies with his eyes on Christ — and we, too, turn our eyes to the Crucified and Risen Lord, who alone gives death meaning, and grief its healing.

The Funeral and Burial: Honouring Pope Francis

The funeral of a pope is not merely a ceremonial formality — it is a profound moment of grief, reverence, and spiritual unity for the entire Catholic Church. Following the death of Pope Francis, the Church gathers as a family to mourn the passing of her earthly shepherd. The body of the Holy Father is traditionally displayed in Saint Peter’s Basilica for public veneration, allowing everyone to come and offer their final prayers. This time of visitation serves not only as a personal farewell but as a visible witness to the communion of the Church, transcending nations and languages, united in the Body of Christ.

The funeral Mass is typically celebrated between the fourth and sixth day after the pope’s death, usually in Saint Peter’s Square, and is presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals. The liturgy reflects both solemn sorrow and Christian hope, grounded in the Paschal Mystery. Scripture readings, intercessory prayers, and the chanting of the Dies Irae have historically been part of this sacred moment. The pope’s coffin is often inscribed with a simple cross and his papal insignia, symbolising the humility of the servant of servants of God.

After the funeral Mass, the pope is laid to rest in the Vatican Grottoes beneath Saint Peter’s Basilica — a tradition that links each successor of Peter back to the tomb of the Apostle himself. This burial site is not only historical but theological: the Bishop of Rome is interred close to the one upon whom Christ built His Church (Matthew 16:18). In doing so, the Church honours not just a man, but the office he held — an office rooted in apostolic succession and divine mandate. It is a burial that proclaims both human mortality and eternal hope in Christ.

The funeral rites and burial reflect the Church’s profound belief in the dignity of the papal office, the communion of saints, and the resurrection of the body. Even in mourning, the Church does not grieve as those without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). This farewell is not an end, but a sacred entrustment: the soul of the pope is commended to the mercy of God, while his legacy remains etched in the life of the Church he loved and led. In honouring Pope Francis, we ultimately honour the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, whom he served until his final breath.

The Novendiales: Nine Days of Mourning and Prayer

In the wake of a Pope’s death, the Church enters a sacred period known as the Novendiales — nine days of mourning and prayer for the repose of his soul. Rooted in ancient tradition, the Novendiales serves not only as a liturgical commemoration but as a spiritual invitation for Christians to unite in grief, hope, and intercession. It is a reminder that the Church does not rush through sorrow but walks through it prayerfully, slowly, and with intention.

Each day of the Novendiales is marked by solemn Masses, prayers, and reflections. Cardinals, clergy, religious, and lay faithful from around the world gather to commend the soul of the departed Holy Father to the mercy of God. In Saint Peter’s Basilica, these Masses are a visible expression of the global Church gathered in love and mourning. At the same time, in local parishes, homes, and hearts, Catholics around the world are invited to enter into this moment — praying the Holy Rosary, Divine Mercy chaplet, and making sacrifices for the Pope who once offered his life in service to the Church.

The number nine is not arbitrary; in Christian tradition, nine days of prayer symbolise perseverance, echoing the nine days the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary spent in the Upper Room between the Ascension and Pentecost. It is a number of waiting, of expectancy, and of faith. In this way, the Novendiales becomes more than a memorial — it is a Pentecost-like pause, trusting that the Holy Spirit will once again come to guide the Church into its next chapter.

Yet, as we wait and pray, we do so not in political suspense, but in spiritual solidarity. We entrust the soul of Pope Francis to the mercy of God, praying for his purification, for his peace, and for his joy in the presence of Christ. At the same time, we ask the Holy Spirit to begin preparing the hearts of the cardinals who will soon gather in conclave. The Novendiales allows us to hold both grief and hope — to honour what has been, and to pray for what will come, under the providential hand of God.

The Conclave: From Grief to Guidance

The word “conclave” comes from the Latin cum clave, meaning “with a key” — reflecting the literal locking of the cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel until a new pope is elected. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, and they enter this sacred gathering under oath, invoking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The conclave is not a political convention, though it may include intense discernment, consultation, and prayer. It is, above all, a sacred act — a spiritual search for the successor of Peter, the one chosen to lead the Church that Jesus Christ Himself established.

The election process follows a centuries-old ritual. After the oath of secrecy is taken and the doors are locked, the first vote may occur on the afternoon of the first day. Subsequent days include up to four votes per day — two in the morning, two in the afternoon. After each round, ballots are burned in a special stove. If no pope has been elected, a chemical is added to produce black smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel — the sign that the Church is still waiting. When a candidate receives a two-thirds majority, white smoke rises. The bells of Saint Peter’s ring out. A new pope has been chosen.

He is asked, “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?” If he accepts, he then chooses a papal name — a tradition that signifies the mission he sees before him, often inspired by saints, former popes, or a desire to send a message of continuity or renewal. Once vested in white, the new pope is presented to the people of Rome and the world with the ancient words: Habemus Papam — “We have a Pope.”

This is not merely the end of a process. It is the beginning of new grace for the Church. It is the fulfilment of Christ’s promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church (cf. Matthew 16:18). The successor of Saint Peter once more takes up the keys — to bind and to loose, to teach and to sanctify, to shepherd the flock of God through the storms of history.

As we stand between grief and hope, loss and renewal, we are reminded that while the man may change, the mission remains the same: to proclaim Christ crucified and risen, and to lead the Church in faith and truth. Let us pray for the soul of Pope Francis, that the Lord, rich in mercy, may receive him into eternal life and grant him the reward of his faithful service. Let us also pray for the cardinal electors, that they may be docile to the Holy Spirit. And let us pray for the one whom God is calling — that he may have the heart of a shepherd, the wisdom of a father, and the courage of a saint.

Eternal rest, grant unto the soul of Pope Francis, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.