Pope Francis Passes Away at 88

Pope Francis passed away on Monday at 7:35 AM (6:35 AM in mainland Portugal) at the age of 88. He was recovering from hospitalization due to bilateral pneumonia, and each public appearance was celebrated by the faithful, with his last being on Easter Sunday.

Vatican Prepares for Succession

The Vatican has begun confirming the initial dates for organizing the succession of Pope Francis, with the first congregation of cardinals scheduled for Tuesday.

Tonight, at 8 PM local time (7 PM in Lisbon), the rite of confirmation of Francis's death and the placement of his body in a coffin will take place, as indicated by Matteo Bruni, the director of the Vatican press service.

A vigil will be held at the Chapel of Casa Santa Marta, rather than the Apostolic Palace, as decreed by the Pope himself during his lifetime. Since his election in 2013, Francis chose to live in Casa Santa Marta and declined to reside in the Apostolic Palace.

Additionally, a first prayer will begin at 7:30 PM local time (6:30 PM in Lisbon) in St. Peter's Square.

Period of Sede Vacante

Following the Pope's death, the Vatican has entered a period of Sede Vacante, led by Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell, until a successor is elected in the conclave.

The cardinal congregations will be led by the dean of cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, and the first meeting will establish the funeral liturgy.

The body of Pope Francis is expected to be transferred on Wednesday morning to St. Peter's Basilica for the faithful to pay their respects, as added by Matteo Bruni. It is still unknown how many days the faithful will have to say goodbye, but in the case of Benedict XVI, who died on December 31, 2022, three days were granted, following tradition.

A funeral will follow, which, if the three-day period is respected, could take place as early as Saturday, April 26. The apostolic constitution **