On April 26, Pope Francis will be interred with a collection of meaningful belongings, including a handwritten note.
The Vatican confirmed his passing on Monday, April 21, stating that the 88-year-old pontiff died following a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible cardiac arrest.
Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Camerlengo, announced in a formal message: “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father’s house.”
In line with his wishes for a modest farewell, today’s funeral will reflect simplicity rather than traditional Vatican pomp.
Holy water will be sprinkled over his remains, and a white cloth will be draped over his head.
Inside the coffin, a pouch containing coins minted during his 12-year papacy will be placed, along with a sealed metal cylinder containing significant documents and a written biography of the Pope.
This biography—known as the “deed of the pious passing”—commemorates him as the 266th Pope and refers to him as a “humble and beloved shepherd.”
As translated by Vatican News, it reads: “Accompanying us as pilgrims of hope on our journey to Heaven, on April 21 in the Jubilee Year 2025 at 7:35 a.m., during Easter Monday celebrations, Pope Francis, the cherished Pastor of the Church, departed from this world to the Father.
“The Christian faithful, especially the marginalized, praised God for his courageous and devoted service to the Gospel and the Church.
“Francis, the 266th Pope, lives on in the collective memory of the Church and humanity.”
The Early Life of Pope Francis
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis on March 13, 2013, was born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936. His parents, Italian immigrants from Piedmont, were Mario, an accountant for the railways, and Regina Sivori, a homemaker who raised their five children.
Originally trained as a chemical technician, Bergoglio later pursued the priesthood, entering the diocesan seminary and joining the Jesuits on March 11, 1958.
He studied humanities in Chile and returned to Argentina in 1963 to earn a degree in philosophy from the Colegio de San José in San Miguel.
He taught literature and psychology at schools in Santa Fé and Buenos Aires, and was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969, by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano. He made his final vows in the Society of Jesus on April 22, 1973.
Bergoglio served in several academic and administrative roles before being appointed provincial superior of Argentina’s Jesuits on July 31, 1973. After a time in Germany working on a doctoral thesis, he returned to Argentina and became a close aide to Cardinal Antonio Quarracino.
His Rise to Bishop and Cardinal
On May 20, 1992, Pope John Paul II appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires and Titular Bishop of Auca. His chosen episcopal motto was Miserando atque eligendo, and his coat of arms featured the Jesuit emblem IHS.
He was promoted to Coadjutor Archbishop on June 3, 1997, and succeeded Cardinal Quarracino as Archbishop on February 28, 1998. He also served as Primate of Argentina and Chancellor of the Catholic University.
John Paul II elevated him to Cardinal on February 21, 2001, assigning him the title of St. Robert Bellarmine. He played a prominent role at the October Synod of Bishops later that year.
Known for his simplicity, he used public transportation, lived in an apartment, and cooked his own meals—traits that made him beloved in Buenos Aires.
Becoming Pope
Following Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, Bergoglio was elected pontiff on March 13, 2013, adopting the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, symbolizing his commitment to the poor.
Addressing the world from the Vatican balcony, he greeted the crowd with: “Brothers and sisters, good evening!” He then humbly asked for the people’s prayers before beginning his ministry, which was formally inaugurated on March 19, the feast of Saint Joseph.
His Papal Ministry
Determined to remain close to people, Pope Francis chose to reside in the guesthouse Domus Sanctae Marthae rather than the Apostolic Palace. From the outset, he marked Holy Thursday by celebrating Mass outside the Vatican in places like prisons and care homes.
He emphasized mercy and encouraged clergy to reach out to those distant from the Church. His commitment to interfaith dialogue included hosting joint prayer events and co-signing important documents such as the Document on Human Fraternity with Sunni leader al-Tayyeb in 2019.
Francis also launched global initiatives like the World Days of the Poor, Grandparents, and Children, and designated a Sunday for the Word of God.
He expanded the College of Cardinals more than any previous Pope, creating 163 new cardinals from 73 countries—23 of which had never before been represented.
He convened five Synods of Bishops, addressing issues like family, youth, synodality, and the Amazon region.
His most poignant public moment came during the early COVID-19 lockdowns when he prayed alone in an empty St. Peter’s Square, symbolically embracing a suffering world.
His Final Years
In his later years, he repeatedly called for peace in regions torn by conflict, including Ukraine, Palestine, and Myanmar.
Following a 10-day hospital stay in July 2021 for intestinal surgery, he was hospitalized again on February 14, 2025, for bilateral pneumonia and remained there for 38 days.
He returned to the Vatican and spent his final days at Casa Santa Marta. Despite failing health, he continued to carry out his papal duties. On Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, he made his last public appearance to deliver the Urbi et Orbi blessing.
His Teachings and Legacy
Francis authored numerous major texts, starting with Evangelii gaudium in 2013, which outlined his vision for a Church focused on mission, courage, and mercy.
His four major encyclicals include:
- Lumen fidei (2013) on faith
- Laudato si’ (2015) on environmental responsibility
- Fratelli tutti (2020) on human fraternity
- Dilexit nos (2024) on devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
He issued seven apostolic exhortations, nearly forty apostolic constitutions, and countless letters and discourses.
Reforming Church governance, he established new departments like the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and restructured the Roman Curia via the 2022 apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium.
He also streamlined annulment procedures and implemented strict rules to address abuse within the clergy.
Francis is remembered as a compassionate and spiritual leader, a fatherly figure to the world, and a model of humility.
This tribute will be read aloud by the master of liturgical ceremonies before being sealed in the metal tube placed in his coffin.
Honoring his final wishes, Pope Francis will be interred in a plain zinc coffin at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a place dear to him throughout his papacy.
More than 130 international figures—including Prince William, Donald Trump, and President Zelenskyy—are expected to attend, with around 500,000 mourners anticipated at the open-air funeral.
In his final testament, the Pope expressed a desire to end his earthly journey at the Marian shrine where he often prayed before and after each apostolic trip.
He wrote: “Let my tomb be in the earth—simple, unadorned, bearing only the name: Franciscus.”
He entrusted his soul to the Virgin Mary and concluded with words of gratitude: “May the Lord reward those who have loved and prayed for me. I offer the suffering of my final days for peace and fraternity in the world.”