Here’s what we know
• Remembering the pope: Pope Francis, the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years, died on Easter Monday. He was 88 years old.
• Francis’ last days: The Vatican’s announcement comes after Pope Francis spent his final days in service of the church, participating in the celebration of Easter and making a high-profile appearance in public. Just before that, he held a brief meeting with US Vice President JD Vance.
• What happens now? Francis’ death prompts a period of mourning, after which all cardinals under the age of 80 will convene to pick the next leader of the Catholic Church. It typically takes between two and three weeks for a new pope to be chosen.
Pope Francis’ death was announced earlier today by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican’s camerlengo, who stood at a microphone, reading a statement in his Irish-accented Italian.
“Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” he said. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church.”
As the camerlengo, Farrell is the acting head of the Vatican in the period between the death or resignation of a pope and appointment of the next leader of the Catholic Church.
