St. Mary's Catholic Church

null / Credi: cinemavision/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 22, 2025 / 11:12 am (CNA).

The start of a papal interregnum brings many terms that may not be familiar to many people, including many Catholics. Here are some of the key words and phrases that will be used throughout the interregnum, especially the conclave to elect the new pope.

Apostolic See or Holy See: The earthly heart of the Church is often referred to as the Apostolic See or Holy See. A see is a seat of authority, from the Latin “sede” for “chair.” Jesus said the Pharisees sat on the chair of Moses. Judges sit on a bench, representing the authority of the state. Professors hold chairs of academic authority. And in the Church bishops possess chairs of spiritual authority, which is why in part their dioceses are called sees. The Roman Diocese has been called the Apostolic See, or Holy See, from ancient times, as it is the seat of authority of the chief apostle Peter, who has Christ’s authority over holy things. The expression applies not only to the pope but also to those in Rome who assist him in governing the universal Church. 

camerlengo: The camerlengo, or chamberlain, of the holy Roman Church has the key role of organizing the process during the vacancy of the Apostolic See, the interregnum. It is the camerlengo, assisted by the master of papal liturgical celebrations and other officials who certify the death of the pope. During the period of vacancy the camerlengo, assisted by the vice camerlengo, gathers reports from the departments of the Curia so that the College of Cardinals can manage the ordinary affairs of the Holy See until a new pope is elected. This is necessary since virtually all department heads lose their offices when a pope dies, except for the camerlengo, the major penitentiary, and the almoner of his holiness.

cardinal: As the root of the name suggests — Latin for “cardo,” or “hinge” — cardinals are among the closest advisers of the pope and have the immense responsibility of electing the bishop of Rome, the pope, in a conclave. The ecclesiastical rank of cardinal was known from about A.D. 315 and the time of Pope Sylvester I. Today these titles, with their reference to ancient responsibilities as being among the clergy of Rome, are said to be “titular,” not actual. The actual offices held by cardinals today are instead within the Roman Curia or as archbishops of dioceses around the world. Cardinals are generally bishops, though the pope may grant an exception, as has been done on several occasions in recent decades. By custom, cardinals are called princes of the Church, with the title of eminence, and enjoy special privileges such as wearing scarlet, a reminder that they are expected also to be witnesses of the faith “usque ad sanguinis effusionem” (“even to the shedding of their blood”). 

cardinal electors: Cardinal electors are those who are eligible to vote in a papal election. All cardinals under the age of 80 on the day on which the Roman See becomes vacant are allowed to participate in the conclave. The exceptions are those who are legitimately prevented by illness or other circumstances, those who have been deposed by the pope, and those from whom the pope has accepted the renunciation of the cardinalate. For most of the history of papal elections there was no age limit on the cardinals to take part in a conclave. However, in 1970 the age requirement of 80 was imposed by Pope Paul VI. He decreed that cardinals turning 80 should cease to be members of the departments of the Roman Curia and of the other institutions and lose the right to elect the pope. If, however, a cardinal completes his 80th year after the Apostolic See becomes vacant, he remains an elector for the conclave. Electors who have been legitimately delayed or who leave for a reason recognized in law may enter, or reenter, the conclave even while it is in progress. Every pope since 1378 has been chosen from among the body of voting cardinals.

College of Cardinals: The collective name given to the body of cardinals, known formally as the Sacred College of Cardinals. This group consists of bishops, and by exception priests, whom a pope has chosen to be his close advisers and collaborators — and to whom he has entrusted the task of electing his successor — are called cardinals. The name derives from the Latin for “hinge” and came into use in the fourth century. The College of Cardinals, or all cardinals collectively, was constituted in its current form in A.D. 1150, although the cardinals have served as the exclusive electors of the pope since 1059. Members belong to one of three ranks, cardinal deacons, cardinal priests, and cardinal bishops.

consistory or congregation: A gathering of cardinals to advise the pope or assist him in his duties. During the vacancy of the Apostolic See there are three kinds of assemblies of the cardinals. General congregations are attended by all the cardinals who are not legitimately impeded, such as by sickness. Particular congregations are composed of the cardinal chamberlain (camerlengo) and three other cardinals. These particular congregations handle the ordinary business of the Roman Church during the interregnum, referring anything significant to the general congregation. Finally, once the cardinal electors gather to elect a pope, their assembly is called a conclave. 

conclave: When the cardinal electors gather to elect a pope their assembly is called a conclave. The name is derived from the Latin for ”cum clavis” (”with a key”), describing the symbolic but historical procedure by which the cardinal electors are locked into the place of election until their task of electing a new pope is finished. The conclave system was formalized in 1274 by Pope Gregory X in the bull Ubi Periculum. It sought to prevent another lengthy interregnum such as the three-year-long ordeal that had preceded his election in 1271. Its procedures are minutely governed today by the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis of Pope John Paul II, as amended by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, and allows for no innovations on the part of the cardinals. By tradition and law, it is held in the Sistine Chapel, and votes are taken once or twice in a morning session and once or twice in an afternoon session. When the session concludes without an election the ballots are burned, causing black smoke to emanate from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. However, if a pope is elected they are burned with a chemical agent, producing the characteristic white smoke signaling the election of a pope.

dean of the College of Cardinals: The most senior member of the College of Cardinals, elected from among the ranks of the cardinal bishops, and confirmed by the pope. The dean is assisted by the vice dean in convoking the cardinals when the pope dies, as well as presiding over their congregations and over the conclave. He is the one who asks the electee to accept election as pope. The dean always has the titular office of the bishop of Ostia, the diocese located at the mouth of the River Tiber, on whose banks Rome sits. The cardinal dean also holds the title he held at the time of his promotion to dean. If the dean is over the age of 80 and therefore ineligible to participate in the conclave, his duties are performed by the vice dean. If he, too, is over 80, the task of running the conclave falls to the most senior cardinal bishop under the age of 80. In the current conclave, both the dean (Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, age 91) and vice dean (Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, age 81) are ineligible, and so the conclave will be directed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the next eligible most senior cardinal bishop. 

dicastery: A dicastery is a department of the Roman Curia whose mission is to assist the pope in his governance of the Church. Among them are the Secretariat of State, the various one-time congregations, such as the Doctrine of the Faith; the tribunals, such as the Apostolic Signatura; the councils, such as for Promoting Christian Unity; and the offices, such as the Camerlengo (which administers the goods of the Holy See during a vacancy). Major dicasteries are traditionally headed by a cardinal, but Pope Francis has also named a woman religious as a prefect as well. Dicasteries are composed of a body of cardinals and bishops who meet periodically to conduct the more important business, assisted by other officials, consultors, and employees, both clergy and laity. 

Domus Sancta Marthae: Called in the Italian the Casa Santa Marta, or St. Martha’s House, the Vatican guesthouse used to welcome various visitors with business in the Vatican and especially to house the cardinals during the conclave. Prior to the conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, the cardinal electors stayed in cramped quarters quickly prepared in the Apostolic Palace near the Sistine Chapel. With the increase in the number of electors in recent decades, this arrangement proved inadequate. Pope John Paul II ordered the construction of the Domus Sancta Marthae, named for the holy woman of Bethany, St. Martha, who busied herself with hospitality for the Lord. In 2005 and 2013, the Domus housed both the nonvoting cardinals before the election and the voting cardinals (those under 80 years of age) once the election began. It also served as the residence of Pope Francis from the time of his election in 2013.

electing a pope: The manner of choosing a pope is not of divine institution. Papal authority is supreme in the Church, so whatever procedure a pope establishes for the election of his successor is lawful, valid, and obligatory until another pope changes it. Christ personally chose Peter, and it is believed that Peter himself designated his successor as Linus. How other of the early popes were elected, by vote or designation, is not known with certainty. However, from the fourth century we see the evolution of procedures culminating in the 11th and 12th centuries in the current system of cardinal electors. The current conclave system of electing a pope was introduced in 1274 by Pope Gregory X. This system has itself been reformed by many popes, including John Paul II, and on some points by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. 

interregnum: The period between the reigns of popes, formally called the vacancy of the Apostolic See, or “sede vacante.” A vacancy may come about due to the death of a reigning pope or to his resignation from office. If a pope has died the cardinals gather in Rome to mourn him and to plan and carry out his funeral and burial. In both the case of death and resignation, they will meet in conclave to elect his successor. During a vacancy, except for certain offices necessary for day-to-day affairs, all department heads in the Roman Curia lose their authority, and the power of the cardinals is limited to those matters concerned with guarding the authority and patrimony of the Holy See for the next pope. 

major penitentiary: The major penitentiary is one of the curial officials who do not lose their offices with the vacancy of the Holy See. The others are the camerlengo or chamberlain of the holy Roman Church and the almoner of his holiness. The major penitentiary is responsible for indulgences, the provision of confessors for the patriarchal basilicas in Rome, and judging questions of conscience (called the internal forum) submitted for adjudication to the Holy See. These include dispensations and absolution from sanctions, such as excommunication, which are reserved in law to the Holy See. The authority of the major penitentiary, therefore, continues during the interregnum.

Novendiales: Following the death of the pope nine days of official mourning are held, called the Novendiales, meaning nine days. The nine days of official mourning, commencing with the day of the solemn funeral Mass, are called the Novendiales. This funeral Mass, and Day 1 of the Novendiales, must fall between the fourth and sixth day after death, that is, on the fifth, sixth, or seventh day of the interregnum, as determined by the College of Cardinals. The mourning period then continues until the nine days are completed. Typically, a Mass is celebrated by a cardinal and might involve officials and staff from different Vatican offices, such as the Vatican City State, the Roman Curia, members of Consecrated Life, and the Eastern Churches. 

papal primacy: Papal primacy refers to the supreme, immediate, and ordinary authority of the pope over everyone in the whole Church. Definitively and precisely stated only at the First Vatican Council in 1870, this primacy of jurisdiction has been exercised by St. Peter and the bishops of Rome from the beginning of the Church. This can be seen in the norms announced by the apostle at the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15, in the letter of Peter’s successor, Clement, to Corinth from about A.D. 85, and many other examples from the Fathers of the Church in which the bishop of Rome is acknowledged as the final court, and the point of unity, for all the local Churches in the universal Church. 

papal titles: The election of a pope is first and foremost the election of the successor to St. Peter as the bishop of Rome. From this office derives all the other offices and titles he will hold. For example, the Roman bishop is the archbishop and metropolitan of the Roman province, the primate or first bishop of Italy, the vicar of Jesus Christ, the supreme pontiff, and pastor of the universal Church. He is the “servant of the servants of God,” a title coined about A.D. 600 by Pope Gregory I the Great. As spiritual father to all Christians he is called “pope” (“papa”), “holy father,” and “your holiness” ― not because he is holy but because the things of Christ, which he administers, are holy. All of these offices belong to the man elected the bishop of Rome.

pope: The title “pope“ means “father.” In ancient Greek it was a child’s term of affection (papa) but was borrowed by Latin as a title of honor. Both Greek-speaking Eastern Christians and Latin-speaking Western Christians applied the term broadly to priests, bishops, and patriarchs in the early Church. Even today, the faithful of the Orthodox Churches may call their parish priest pope. Gradually, however, Latin usage became more restrictive. At the beginning of the third century, papa was a term of respect for churchmen in high positions; by the fifth century, it was applied particularly to the bishop of Rome; and since the eighth century, as far the West is concerned, the title has been exclusively a reference to the pope in Rome.

proto-deacon: The name used for the most senior cardinal deacon who makes the announcement to the waiting world that the election has taken place and proclaims the name of the new pope by exclaiming “Habemus papam!” (“We have a pope!”). The proto-deacon is the longest serving of the cardinals who hold the rank within the College of Cardinals of cardinal deacon (the other ranks being cardinal priests and cardinal bishops) based on the date of his appointment to the college and by the order of announcement on the “biglietto” or papal decree. The current proto-deacon is Cardinal Dominique Mamberti. 

Roman Curia: Curia is a Latin term for a ruling body and its place of assembly. In ancient Rome the senate met in the Curia, which can still be seen among the ruins of the Roman Forum. Within the Church the term is used for those who assist a bishop in the governance of his diocese. With respect to the bishop of Rome, it applies to the members of the various Roman dicasteries, such as the Doctrine of the Faith, Saints, Tribunals, Councils, Offices, Commissions, and Committees who assist the pope in his governing of the Church. The current authority, structure, responsibilities, and operation of the Curia were established by Pope Francis in 2022 with the apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium.

Sistine Chapel: When the cardinal electors, those under 80 years of age, gather twice daily to deliberate and vote for the next pope, they will do so in the Sistine Chapel of the Apostolic Palace. Built for Pope Sixtus IV (1471-1484), after whom it is named, this chapel was made famous by Pope Julius II (1503-1513), who in 1508 commissioned Michelangelo to decorate its vault, a task he completed in 1512. Later, Michelangelo painted the “Last Judgment” on the altar wall for Pope Paul III (1534-1549). It is before this imposing painting that the cardinal electors will cast their votes for the next pope. The first conclave to be held in the Sistine Chapel was in 1492 and the election of Pope Alexander VI, and the last not to be held there was in 1846 and the election of Pope Pius IX when it was held in the Quirinal Palace in Rome. In the decree governing the conclave, Pope John Paul II’s 1996 apostolic constitution Universi Dominic Gregis, the cardinals are mandated to hold the election in the Sistine Chapel, “where everything is conducive to an awareness of the presence of God, in whose sight each person will one day be judged” (Universi Dominic Gregis, Introduction).

supreme pontiff: “Pontiff” is taken from the Latin “pontifex” or “bridge-builder.” This title was given in ancient Rome to priests, seen as the mediators between the gods and men. In Christian teaching, Christ is the one mediator reconciling God and man. He alone is necessary. However, he utilizes human beings in offices of secondary mediation in order to effect his plan of salvation through his mystical body the Church. Applied to the bishop of Rome, “pontiff,” therefore, points to the high priesthood of Jesus Christ, which the pope exercises as a bishop. As pope, he is said to be the supreme pontiff, because he is pastor not only of his own diocese but also of the universal Church. 

Vatican City State: Vatican City State is the world’s smallest sovereign state, with its own diplomatic corps, passport, laws, police, stamps, and head of state, the pope. A 1929 concordat with Italy established the state, restoring the political autonomy the papacy had enjoyed for centuries in the Papal States. These states in central Italy protected the Church from subjection to kings and princes but were lost when the forces of Italian unification — the “Risorgimento” — entered Rome in 1870. The Vatican Concordat settled the issue of the pope’s temporal authority, securing for him sovereignty over the Vatican and certain other properties in Italy. Even during World War II, when Hitler contemplated invading the Vatican and capturing the pope, it provided a diplomatically secure place from which the Church could act independently.

vicar of Christ: The title “vicar of Christ” is closely associated with Our Lord’s titles “son of David” and “king of Israel.” It was foretold to David that a descendant would reign on David’s throne forever. This king is Jesus Christ, who reigns in an eternal spiritual kingdom, as opposed to the earthly kingdom that many expected the messiah to take up. Every king has a prime minister, a vizier or vicar, to implement his will and speak in his name. Although the kingdom of God has no material treasures to guard and dispense, it has spiritual treasures: the faith, the sacraments, the unity of the Church. This spiritual treasure is what was committed to Peter under the symbol of the keys and is passed to those who succeed him in his office as the vicar of Christ.

Attendees at the National Catholic Educational Association 2024 Convention in Pittsburgh. / Credit: Photo courtesy of NCEA

CNA Staff, Apr 22, 2025 / 10:42 am (CNA).

This month in Florida, a national Catholic education group is bringing together teachers and school administrators for one of the largest private education gatherings in the nation.

More than 3,200 are set to attend the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) 2025 Convention at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando this week, April 22–24. A major focus at the conference is developing a faith-based response to artificial intelligence in education.

The event will continue as scheduled following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday as the Church mourns and prays for the late Holy Father.

“As we pray for his eternal rest, we also pray in this Jubilee of Hope that Catholic school educators will embrace Pope Francis’ call to be pilgrims of hope, bringing Christ’s joy and peace to the world,” the association president and CEO, Steven Cheeseman, said on Monday.  

Cheeseman said the pope’s witness of humility and joy inspires Catholic educators.

“For the last 12 years, Pope Francis faithfully shepherded the Church with his signature joy and humility — two virtues that every Catholic school educator is called to emulate in their vocation,” Cheesman said.

“His unwavering focus on the Lord’s mercy and our responsibility to care for the most vulnerable among us are hallmarks of this inspiring servant leader,” he continued.

The convention will feature breakout sessions for professional learning as well as Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and time for fellowship.

Cheeseman shared his hope that the event will “engage, empower, and inspire everyone who serves in Catholic education.”

Featured breakout session topics include promoting student success, addressing mental health, and integrating students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Various sessions also highlight developing a Catholic culture, addressing teacher burnout, and even a workshop on transitioning to a classical curriculum — a growing trend in Catholic education. 

Given the growing prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI), conference speakers will highlight how to build faith-based policies around artificial intelligence.

NCEA spokesperson BeeJae Visitacion said the conference will address AI from a faith-based perspective to help Catholic school educators “to lead with both innovation and integrity.”

AI is “transforming the field of education,” said Visitacion, who is the director of communications for the association.

But what’s the Catholic response?

Keynotes and breakout sessions on AI will address “its ethical considerations in a faith-based context,” Visitacion said. 

The conference will examine “how AI tools can be integrated to support — not replace — the vocation of education,” Visitacion added. 

Author and educator Dan Fitzpatrick and Holy Cross priest and educator Father Nate Wills will both give keynote addresses on AI on April 22 and April 24, respectively. 

“These conversations will ensure that participants walk away with a clear, mission-centered framework for navigating this fast-moving field,” Visitacion said.

As school choice programs throughout the country are increasing access to private education, the convention will address the impact of school choice. 

Breakout sessions will help leaders develop their response to the growth of school choice, which, as Visitacion said, “has profoundly impacted Catholic schools.” 

“Dedicated sessions will explore how school choice is shaping enrollment trends, funding models, and family engagement,” Visitacion said.

“Experts from dioceses with robust school choice programs will share insights, best practices, and real-world data on how these policies are helping Catholic schools grow and thrive.”

The convention is “one of the largest private-education association gatherings in the nation,” according to the association’s webpage.

Cheeseman shared his excitement to welcome attendees to the conference “for this national expression of hope and purpose as we carry out our shared mission to form students in faith, knowledge, and service.” 

The upcoming event, he told CNA, “is more than our annual convention.” 

“It’s a celebration of the mission and ministry of Catholic schools,” Cheeseman said.

Future NCEA conventions are set for April 7–9, 2026, in Minneapolis and March 30–April 1, 2027, in Indianapolis. For more information visit here.

Pope Francis speaks the Easter blessing “urbi et orbi” from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, April 20, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, Apr 22, 2025 / 10:12 am (CNA).

Pope Francis’ last public act was a blessing of the entire world on Easter Sunday, delivered from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica — the same place where he was introduced as pope 12 years ago. 

In the wake of his death, the Vatican released further details on Tuesday about the pope’s final hours. 

“Grazie,” or “Thank you,” was among the pope’s final words, according to Vatican state media. He addressed them to Massimiliano Strappetti, the Vatican nurse who had served as his personal health assistant since 2022.

“Thank you for bringing me back to the Square,” Francis told Strappetti, who had encouraged him to greet the crowd from the popemobile on Easter Sunday following the traditional “urbi et orbi” blessing.

It marked the first time Francis had used the popemobile since a 39-day hospitalization earlier this year for pneumonia. The more than 15 minutes he spent waving to the 50,000 people gathered in the square ended up being his last ride. 

His final public words were simple: “Brothers and sisters, happy Easter.” 

The 88-year-old pope spent the remainder of Easter afternoon resting and had a peaceful dinner, according to the Vatican. 

At 5:30 a.m. local time on Monday, April 21, the pope’s health took a sudden turn, prompting immediate medical attention. Just over an hour later, still in bed in his second-floor apartment at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis made a gesture of farewell with his hand to Strappetti before going into a coma.

He died at 7:35 a.m. in his Vatican apartment. According to his death certificate, the cause of death was a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible cardiovascular collapse.

“He did not suffer. It all happened quickly,” Vatican News reported Tuesday, citing those who were present in his final moments.

In the hours following his death, many Catholics reflected on the words in his final Easter urbi et orbi blessing, which had been read aloud on his behalf from the loggia on Easter Sunday. 

“The resurrection of Jesus is indeed the basis of our hope. For in the light of this event, hope is no longer an illusion. Thanks to Christ — crucified and risen from the dead — hope does not disappoint! Spes non confundit! (cf. Rom 5:5),” the message says. 

“Christ is risen! These words capture the whole meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life. Easter is the celebration of life! God created us for life and wants the human family to rise again! In his eyes, every life is precious! The life of a child in the mother’s womb, as well as the lives of the elderly and the sick, who in more and more countries are looked upon as people to be discarded,” he wrote.

“In the Lord’s paschal mystery, death and life contended in a stupendous struggle, but the Lord now lives forever (cf. Easter Sequence). He fills us with the certainty that we too are called to share in the life that knows no end, when the clash of arms and the rumble of death will be heard no more. Let us entrust ourselves to him, for he alone can make all things new (cf. Rev. 21:5). Happy Easter to everyone!”

Pope Francis is seen at his general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 16, 2014. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, Apr 22, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

Throughout his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis gave many addresses, talks, and statements, and he penned numerous encyclicals and apostolic exhortations emphasizing themes of hope, mercy, compassion, and joy. 

His words often focused on the dignity of the poor, migrants, refugees, and the elderly as well as the importance of marriage, family life, and care for the environment. Advocating for “synodality,” Francis also called for a Church that listens and walks together. 

Below is a collection of quotes that reflect Pope Francis’ vision for a more compassionate and Christ-centered world.

Hope

In his first encyclical letter Lumen Fidei, Pope Francis said faith in Jesus Christ helps one to joyfully live life “on wings of hope.” 

Constantly encouraging people to turn to God, the Holy Father opened the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope writing in Spes Non Confundit: “Christian hope does not deceive or disappoint because it is grounded in the certainty that nothing and no one may ever separate us from God’s love … The death and resurrection of Jesus is the heart of our faith and the basis of our hope.”

Mercy

Pope Francis often said that God’s style is one of “closeness, mercy, and tenderness.” 

Exactly two years before closing the Jubilee Year of Mercy, the Holy Father penned his first papal apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium on the 2013 solemnity of Christ the King, writing: “Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy … Time and time again he bears us on his shoulders. No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by this boundless and unfailing love.” 

Joy

As the first pontiff in history to criticize “sourpusses” in a papal document, Pope Francis reiterated the evangelical importance of joy, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, in Evangelii Gaudium. 

In a message to participants of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints’ 2022 “Holiness Today” symposium, he said: “Without this joy, faith shrinks into an oppressive and dreary thing; the saints are not ‘sourpusses’ but men and women with joyful hearts, open to hope … Blessed Carlo Acutis is likewise a model of Christian joy for teenagers and young people. And the evangelical, and paradoxical, ‘perfect joy’ of St. Francis of Assisi continues to impress us.”

Love for the poor 

Choosing the name “Francis” in honor of St. Francis of Assisi was a powerful signal to the world that the pope wanted a “Church which is poor and for the poor!” 

With his burning desire for the love of Jesus Christ to reach the world’s peripheries, the Argentinian pope insisted that the poor are true evangelizers who must not be ignored. 

In his 2015 apostolic journey to the Philippines for the country’s Year of the Poor, the Holy Father asked young people: “You who live by always giving, and think that you need nothing, do you realize that you are poor yourself? Do you realize that you are very poor and that you need what they can give you? Do you let yourself be evangelized by the poor, by the sick, by those you assist?” 

Migrants and refugees

Migrants, displaced people, refugees, and victims of human trafficking always held a special place in the Jesuit pontiff’s heart. 

In 2016, Francis instituted the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and called on Catholics worldwide in 2020, through Fratelli Tutti, to open their arms to those affected by war, persecution, poverty, and natural disasters.

In his 2018 World Day of Migrants and Refugees message, he said: “The Lord entrusts to the Church’s motherly love every person forced to leave their homeland in search of a better future … In this regard, I wish to reaffirm that ‘our shared response may be articulated by four verbs: to welcome, to protect, to promote, and to integrate.’”

Environment and climate change

Pope Francis spoke in Catholic and secular venues about the detrimental impacts of a “throwaway culture” perpetuated by unscrupulous profiteering and rampant consumerism. 

Having written two key documents — including Laudate Deum — dedicated to the care for God’s creation, he wrote in Laudato Si’ in 2015: “We have to realize that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”

Pets vs. people

The pope was a strong believer that pets should never replace children. 

During his 2023 address at the General State of the Birth Rate conference held in Italy, the Holy Father recalled one brief encounter: “I greeted the woman, and she opened a bag and said: ‘Will you bless him, my baby?’ A dog!”

“I did not have any patience there… ‘Madam, many children are hungry, and you are here with a dog!’ Brothers and sisters, these are scenes from the present, but if things continue like this, it will be the custom of the future: beware.”

Marriage and family life

Among several practical pearls of wisdom for families — including advice to mothers to “stop ironing the shirts” of their sons so that they marry soon — Pope Francis told newlyweds in 2016 that the words: “May I?”, “Thank you,” and “I’m sorry” are key to maintaining peace in the home.  

“There are always problems and arguments in married life,” the pope said. “It is normal for husband and wife to argue and to raise their voices; they squabble, and even plates go flying! So do not be afraid of this when it happens. May I give you a piece of advice: Never end the day without making peace.”

Youth and the elderly

Known as the “grandfather of the children” at the Holy Family Church in Gaza, Pope Francis traditionally used his weekly general audiences to convey his spiritual closeness with both the youth and the elderly. 

When the pope instituted the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, he said: “The future of the world depends on this covenant between young and old. Who, if not the young, can take the dreams of the elderly and make them come true? Yet for this to happen, it is necessary that we continue to dream.” 

“Our dreams of justice, of peace, of solidarity can make it possible for our young people to have new visions; in this way, together, we can build the future,” the pope said.

Synodality

The Argentinian pope often said he preferred a Church that goes out into the world even if “bruised, hurting, and dirty because it has been out on the streets.” 

The Holy Father insisted priests be shepherds “with the smell of sheep,” urged consecrated brothers and sisters to bring God’s “light to the women and men of our time,” and called on laypeople to “bring the novelty and joy of the Gospel wherever you are.” 

Urging all Catholic faithful to learn how to listen and walk together as one missionary Church, the Holy Father said at the close of the Vatican’s 2024 Synod on Synodality meeting: “Everyone, everyone, everyone! Nobody left outside: everyone … It is up to us to amplify the sound of this whispering, never getting in its way; to open the doors, never building walls.” 

“How much damage the women and men of the Church do when they build walls, how much damage! Everyone is welcome, everyone, everyone!” he said.

Popular piety: Our Lady, St. Joseph, and the Heart of Jesus

Pope Francis was known to love the simple faith and devotion of the people. His own childlike affection for Mary, the Mother of God, and St. Joseph was evident to millions. 

However, the pontiff’s belief in the power of popular piety reached its climax in his last and lengthy encyclical letter, Dilexit Nos, in which he wrote: “The flames of love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus also expand through the Church’s missionary outreach, which proclaims the message of God’s love revealed in Christ … As we contemplate the Sacred Heart, mission becomes a matter of love.”

Food

The Church’s first Latin American pope understood the importance of physical and spiritual nourishment.

Besides sharing lessons learnt from his favorite movie, “Babette’s Feast,” the pope would always tell those who prayed the Sunday Angelus with him to “have a good lunch!” 

In Dilexit Nos, the Holy Father stressed just how important culinary traditions are for family life when he wrote: “In this age of artificial intelligence, we cannot forget that poetry and love are necessary to save our humanity.” 

“No algorithm,” he said, “will ever be able to capture, for example, the nostalgia that all of us feel, whatever our age, and wherever we live, when we recall how we first used a fork to seal the edges of the pies that we helped our mothers or grandmothers to make at home.”

The earth, photographed by the crew of Apollo 8 in December 1968. / Credit: NASA (public domain)

CNA Staff, Apr 22, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Pope Francis, who died on April 21 in Rome at the age of 88, had a special love for creation and urged the faithful to take care of the environment throughout his pontificate.

In May 2015, he published Laudato Si’, an encyclical focusing on care for the environment that includes topics such as global warming and environmental degradation. He then released a follow-up document to the encyclical on Oct. 4, 2023, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, to address current issues.

In remembrance of the Holy Father’s message urging the faithful to take action to protect the natural environment and to celebrate Earth Day, marked every year on April 22, here are 10 quotes from Pope Francis on creation and care for the environment: 

“Nature is a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness. Rather than a problem to be solved, the world is a joyful mystery to be contemplated with gladness and praise” (Laudato Si’, 12).

“Take good care of creation. St. Francis wanted that. People occasionally forgive, but nature never does. If we don’t take care of the environment, there’s no way of getting around it” (Meeting with the president of Ecuador, April 22, 2013).

“You are called to care for creation not only as responsible citizens but also as followers of Christ! Respect for the environment means more than simply using cleaner products or recycling what we use. These are important aspects, but not enough. We need to see, with the eyes of faith, the beauty of God’s saving plan, the link between the natural environment and the dignity of the human person” (Meeting with Young People, Santo Tomás University, Manila, Jan. 18, 2015).

“The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, God’s boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: Everything is a caress of God” (Laudato Si’, 84).

“The Eucharist is itself an act of cosmic love: Yes, cosmic! Because even when it is celebrated on the humble altar of a country church, the Eucharist is always in some way celebrated on the altar of the world. The Eucharist joins heaven and earth; it embraces and penetrates all creation” (Laudato Si’, 236).

“As stewards of God’s creation, we are called to make the earth a beautiful garden for the human family. When we destroy our forests, ravage our soil, and pollute our seas, we betray that noble calling” (Meeting with Young People, Santo Tomás University, Manila, Jan. 18, 2015).

“May the relationship between man and nature not be driven by greed, to manipulate and exploit, but may the divine harmony between beings and creation be conserved in the logic of respect and care” (General Audience, April 22, 2015).

“The human family has received from the Creator a common gift: nature … Nature, in a word, is at our disposition and we are called to exercise a responsible stewardship over it. Yet so often we are driven by greed and by the arrogance of dominion, possession, manipulation, and exploitation; we do not preserve nature; nor do we respect it or consider it a gracious gift which we must care for and set at the service of our brothers and sisters, including future generations” (Message for the World Day of Peace, 2014).

“Creation is not a property, which we can rule over at will; or, even less, is the property of only a few: Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us, so that we care for it and we use it for the benefit of all, always with great respect and gratitude” (General Audience, March 21, 2014).

“We received this world as inheritance from past generations, but also as a loan from future generations, to whom we will have to return it!” (Remarks, Meeting with Political, Business, and Community Leaders, Quito, Ecuador, July 7, 2015).

Pope Francis meets with the United States bishops at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 23, 2015. / Credit: L’Osservatore Romano

CNA Staff, Apr 22, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88, visited the United States just once, nearly 10 years ago, in September 2015. 

Despite the brevity of the visit, he accomplished a lot: Attracting hundreds of thousands of participants, he canonized a new saint (St. Junípero Serra), became the first pope to ever address a joint session of Congress, and galvanized the U.S. Catholic community with his presence and his speeches on the East Coast.

Washington, D.C.

Pope Francis began his tour of North America with several days in Cuba. Landing in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 22, 2015, Pope Francis met with President Barack Obama first thing the next morning. The meeting came amid a time of concerns for many American Catholics regarding politics, including the Obama administration’s contraceptive mandate and the recent legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide, via the June 2015 Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges.

During the presidential meeting, Francis praised Obama’s commitment to inclusivity and noted that American Catholics have contributed greatly to building a tolerant and inclusive society while also stressing that religious liberty “remains one of America’s most precious possessions.” He also encouraged commitment to addressing the “urgent” issue of climate change, building on his expansive 2015 encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’. 

While in D.C., that same day, the pope addressed bishops and priests at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle and later celebrated Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. At the latter Mass, he celebrated the first canonization on American soil by declaring Junípero Serra, who founded missions along present-day California, a saint.

“He was the embodiment of ‘a Church which goes forth,’ a Church which sets out to bring everywhere the reconciling tenderness of God,” the pope said.

On the same day, Francis made an unscheduled stop to visit with the Little Sisters of the Poor in Washington, D.C., to support the sisters as they awaited word on whether or not the Supreme Court will hear their case against the federal contraception mandate. (The sisters are still fighting aspects of the mandate, even after more than 14 years in court.)

Francis addressed a joint session of Congress the next day, Sept. 24, making him the first pope to ever to do so. During his lengthy speech, he condemned the arms trade and the death penalty — statements that reportedly made some lawmakers in the room squirm. 

Francis went on to assert that the family was being threatened like never before and praised American figures, including Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr., for their tireless efforts to defend freedom and moral values. He also touched on respect for human life and the environment in the well-received speech.

The pope also visited St. Patrick Parish and met with people experiencing homelessness at Catholic Charities, addressing people who minister to the poor. He offered St. Joseph as their patron and model, because, he said, St. Joseph grappled with injustice and suffering in his care for Mary and Jesus.

“The Son of God came into this world as a homeless person,” the pope said. “The Son of God knew what it was to start life without a roof over his head.”

“We can find no social or moral justification, no justification whatsoever, for lack of housing. There are many unjust situations, but we know that God is suffering with us, experiencing them at our side. He does not abandon us.”

Controversially, while in D.C. Pope Francis met with Kim Davis, a Kentucky county clerk who had become a cultural lightning rod for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses. The pope reportedly told her to “stay strong,” offering rosaries to Davis and her husband. The Vatican later clarified that Francis met with Davis and her husband as part of a large group invited by the nunciature, with the Vatican spokesperson adding that the pope “did not enter into the details” of her situation.

New York City

After flying to New York City the evening of Sept. 24 and praying vespers at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, Francis addressed the United Nations General Assembly the next day, Sept. 25, the fifth time a pope had addressed the body.

The pontiff issued a call to the countries of the world to reject what he called “ideological colonization” — the “imposition of anomalous models and lifestyles which are alien to people’s identity and, in the end, irresponsible.”

Like his predecessor, Benedict XVI, Pope Francis made a solemn visit with other religious leaders to Ground Zero, the site of the 9/11 attacks, later on Sept. 25. He met with families of first responders, saying at the site museum that acts of destruction always have “a face, a concrete story, names.” He offered a “prayer of remembrance” for all those killed that day, along with a prayer for the survivors and those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones.

Later that day, after visiting Our Lady, Queen of the Angels School in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, Francis celebrated Mass at Madison Square Garden. He encouraged people to remember those in the city who are often forgotten, including “foreigners, the children who go without schooling, those deprived of medical insurance, the homeless, the forgotten elderly.”

“Knowing that Jesus still walks our streets, that he is part of the lives of his people, that he is involved with us in one vast history of salvation, fills us with hope. A hope which liberates us from the forces pushing us to isolation and lack of concern for the lives of others, for the life of our city,” the pope said.

“A hope which frees us from empty ‘connections,’ from abstract analyses, or sensationalist routines. A hope which is unafraid of involvement, which acts as a leaven wherever we happen to live and work. A hope which makes us see, even in the midst of smog, the presence of God as he continues to walk the streets of our city.”

Philadelphia

Pope Francis’ visit included an appearance at the 2015 World Meeting of Families (WMF) in Philadelphia, an event that focuses on celebrating the gift of the family. 

After flying to the “City of Brotherly Love” the morning of Sept. 26, Pope Francis took part in a Mass for clergy and religious at Philadelphia’s Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. In his homily address, the pope challenged the clergy and religious to inspire new vocations. 

He called for women to take on a greater role in the Church, highlighting the example of St. Katharine Drexel — a Philadelphia native — and he reminded the priests and religious present of their role in ministering to families, couples preparing for marriage, and young people.

He later addressed a crowd of some 50,000 people at Independence Mall, the site of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, for a religious freedom rally with Hispanic and other immigrants. 

Speaking to thousands of families gathered on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia that night, a visibly moved Pope Francis ditched his prepared remarks and instead gave an impromptu reflection on the beauty and dire importance of family life. He voiced his thanks at “the presence of all of you — who are a real witness that it’s worth being a family!” A society “is strong, solid, and edified on beauty, goodness, and truth,” he added.

On Sept. 27, the next day, Francis had an unscripted meeting with five abuse survivors — three women and two men — all of whom had been abused in childhood either by members of the clergy, family members, or educators. He promised accountability for perpetrators and expressed sorrow for the victims’ suffering. 

In the face of such heinous acts as sexual abuse, “God cries,” he said, adding that “the criminal sins of the abuse of minors can’t be kept in silence any longer … I promise, with the vigilance of the Church, to protect minors and I promise [that] all of those responsible will be held accountable.”

He told a gathering of international bishops afterward that the survivors’ stories of suffering “have aggravated my heart” and said that crimes of abuse must never be kept in silence.

Later that morning, Francis visited a Philadelphia correctional facility, saying at the meeting with a group of 100 inmates and their families that every person is marked and bruised by life, but Jesus washes away our sins and invites us to live a full life. 

Finally, the close of Sept. 27 — after Francis celebrated Mass for the WMF — marked the end of the pope’s trip to the United States. He thanked Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia as well as the civil authorities, donors, volunteers, and organizers that made the gathering possible. It was thought to have been the largest gathering ever held in Philadelphia. 

Reflecting on the trip, the Holy Father said it was “particularly moving for me to canonize St. Junípero Serra, who reminds us all of our call to be missionary disciples.”

He added that he was touched “to stand with my brothers and sisters of other religions at Ground Zero, that place which speaks so powerfully of the mystery of evil. Yet we know with certainty that evil never has the last word, and that, in God’s merciful plan, love and peace triumph over all.”

Furthermore, he promised his prayers for the U.S. people, saying: “This land has been blessed with tremendous gifts and opportunities. I pray that you may all be good and generous stewards of the human and material resources entrusted to you.”

“I thank the Lord that I was able to witness the faith of God’s people in this country, as manifested in our moments of prayer together and evidenced in so many works of charity.”

Concluding, he asked those present: “Do not let your enthusiasm for Jesus, his Church, our families, and the broader family of society run dry.”

“May our days together bear fruit that will last, generosity and care for others that will endure!” he said. “Just as we have received so much from God — gifts freely given us, and not of our own making — so let us freely give to others in return.”

The body of Pope Francis lies in state at the Vatican’s Domus Sanctae Marthae chapel, surrounded by Swiss Guards, cardinals, and Vatican officials paying their respects before his transfer to St. Peter’s Basilica for public veneration, Monday, April 21, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Apr 22, 2025 / 06:55 am (CNA).

The Vatican on Tuesday released the first photos of Pope Francis after his death, showing him dressed in red vestments and lying in a simple wooden coffin inside the chapel of the Santa Marta guesthouse.

The photos, taken on the evening of April 21 during the first step of the papal funeral rites, show the pontiff, who died earlier in the day at the age of 88, holding a rosary and wearing the papal miter and pallium. The lit Easter candle is visible to Francis’ right, and he is flanked by Swiss Guards.

The photos also show scenes from the “rite of the ascertainment of death and deposition in the coffin,” the first stage in the papal funeral rites, which was presided over by the camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, on April 21.

The photos also show the sealing of the papal apartments in the Casa Santa Marta, where Pope Francis lived during his pontificate. 

Farrell — along with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and his deputy, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra — also closed and sealed the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace, as called for by protocol.

On April 22, the Vatican’s liturgical office also published information about what will happen next in the funeral rites for Pope Francis.

Pope Francis’ coffin will be moved to St. Peter’s Basilica in a solemn procession on the morning of Wednesday, April 23, and placed near the basilica’s main altar for the public to view the body, pray, and say goodbye.

Pope Francis’ funeral Mass, called the “Missa poenitentialis,” will be held in St. Peter’s Square at 10 a.m. local time on Saturday, April 26.

The funeral will mark the first day of the “Novendiales,” nine consecutive days of mourning for the pope.

Also on Tuesday morning, the College of Cardinals met for the first of its “general congregations,” pre-conclave meetings of cardinals to discuss important Church business during the “sede vacante” (vacant see of Peter), issues facing the universal Church, and what qualities could be desirable in the next pope.

According to the Holy See Press Office, around 60 cardinals were present for the first general congregation, which included prayer for Pope Francis and the reading of his final testament.

The college also chose three cardinals to assist Farrell, the camerlengo, over the next three days: Cardinals Pietro Parolin, Fabio Baggio, and Stanisław Ryłko. The second meeting will be held on the afternoon of April 23.

The body of Pope Francis lies in state at the Vatican's Domus Sanctae Marthae chapel, surrounded by Swiss Guards, cardinals, and Vatican officials paying their respects before his transfer to St. Peter’s Basilica for public veneration on April 22, 2025. The mortal remains of Pope Francis will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, April 23. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Apr 22, 2025 / 04:53 am (CNA).

Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will take place Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced Tuesday.

The Mass will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals.

Following the funeral, the pope’s coffin will be taken to St. Peter’s Basilica and then to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for burial.

In accordance with his personal wishes, Francis will not be buried in the Vatican grottoes but instead at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, a church he visited more than 100 times during his papacy, before and after international trips, in devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he plans to attend the funeral with the first lady, Melania Trump. Other heads of state, religious leaders, and thousands of faithful from around the world are expected to attend.

In the days leading up to the funeral, the late pope’s body will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful can pay their final respects. He will lie in state from Wednesday morning until the funeral Saturday morning, following the rite of translation on Wednesday, April 23, which will begin at 9 a.m. A procession will pass through Santa Marta Square and the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs before entering the basilica through the central door, according to the Holy See Press Office.

The papal funeral will follow the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the Vatican’s official liturgical text for papal funerals, which was updated at Francis’ request in 2024. The late pope’s face, his body having been placed in a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc, is covered with a silk veil.

The funeral is the first in nine days of Masses offered for the repose of his soul, known as the “Novendiales.” Each day, a cardinal chosen by the late pope will preside over a Requiem Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell on May 2, 2017. / Credit: Lucia Ballester/CNA

Vatican City, Apr 21, 2025 / 17:28 pm (CNA).

Following the death of Pope Francis, an Irish-American cardinal is playing a leading role in overseeing Vatican affairs until the election of a new pope. 

Cardinal Kevin Farrell is a key figure in the papal succession because of his appointment in 2019 as the camerlengo of the apostolic chamber. 

The responsibilities of the camerlengo, or chamberlain, include ascertaining the pope’s death, performing some of the rites connected to a papal funeral, overseeing the preparations for a conclave, and managing the administration of the Holy See until the election of the next pope. 

Farrell’s nomination as camerlengo was one of several marks of the deep trust Pope Francis placed in the Dublin-born cleric.

In 2016, the pope named Farrell prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life, which replaced the Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Pontifical Council for the Family. He gave him the cardinal’s red hat months later. 

As prefect, Farrell oversaw the planning of the World Meeting of Families in Dublin in 2018 and in Rome in 2022. He also oversaw World Youth Day in Panama in 2019 and in Portugal in 2023. 

In 2020, Pope Francis put the cardinal in charge of a committee monitoring internal Vatican financial decisions that fell outside other accountability norms, making him uniquely informed about Vatican finances among the hierarchy.

In 2022, the pope also appointed Farrell chairman of a new commission to oversee investments.

At the start of 2024, the cardinal added another position to his list of responsibilities: president of the court of cassation — the Vatican’s so-called “supreme court” — in another papal nomination.  

In his most recent sign of trust in Farrell, Pope Francis also put the cardinal in charge of the reform of the Vatican’s gravely unbalanced pension fund, naming him “sole administrator,” at a critical juncture. 

At the death of the pope, Farrell ceased each of these roles — except for camerlengo. 

Who is Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell?

Kevin Joseph Farrell was born in Ireland on Sept. 2, 1947. He entered the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1966 and was ordained to the priesthood on Dec. 24, 1978. Farrell studied at the University of Salamanca in Spain and the Pontifical Gregorian University and Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Rome.  

He served as chaplain of the Legion of Christ’s apostolic movement Regnum Christi at the University of Monterrey in Mexico. He later denied having prior knowledge of sexual abuse on the part of the Legion of Christ’s founder, Marcial Maciel. 

After leaving the Legionaries, Farrell was incardinated in the Archdiocese of Washington in 1984, serving in roles including director of the Spanish Catholic Center before becoming the archdiocese’s finance officer in 1989. 

In 2002, he was named an auxiliary bishop of Washington, serving as moderator of the curia and vicar general, a chief advisory role, to then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. 

Farrell lived together with McCarrick in a renovated parish building in Washington’s Kalorama neighborhood for six years. He later denied having any knowledge of accusations of sexual abuse against McCarrick, who was dismissed from the clerical state in 2019. 

Farrell caused controversy in 2018 after he suggested in an interview with an Irish Catholic magazine that priests lacked the necessary experience to provide adequate marriage preparation to engaged couples. 

The comment echoed a statement of his from 2017 that priests have “no credibility when it comes to living the reality of marriage.” 

The cardinal was a prominent defender of Pope Francis’ controversial 2016 apostolic exhortation on love in the family, Amoris Laetitia. 

“There is nothing in Amoris Laetitia that is contrary to the Gospel,” he said in 2019. “What does Francis do? He goes to the Gospel. Look at every chapter, it’s straight out of one of the Gospels or the letters of St. Paul.” 

As prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life, Farrell helped coordinate the Vatican’s initiatives for the Amoris Laetitia Family Year, marking the fifth anniversary of the text’s publication.  

Role of the camerlengo

The camerlengo is one of only a few major officials of the Roman Curia who does not lose his office while the papacy is vacant. The camerlengo, whose role is regulated by the 1996 document Universi Dominici Gregis and the 2022 apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium, administers Church finances and property during the interregnum. 

Paragraph 17 of Universi Dominici Gregis says that “the camerlengo of Holy Roman Church must officially ascertain the pope’s death” and “must also place seals on the pope’s study and bedroom,” and later “the entire papal apartment.” 

The camerlengo is also responsible for notifying the cardinal vicar for Rome of the pope’s death. The cardinal vicar then notifies the people of Rome by special announcement. The camerlengo takes possession of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican and the palaces of the Lateran and of Castel Gandolfo and manages their administration. As Pope Francis resided in the Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City and not the Apostolic Palace, the camerlengo will also be required to take possession and seal those quarters as well for the duration of the sede vacante. 

Only the pope may choose the cardinal to fill the position of camerlengo, though he may also leave it vacant, in which case, the College of Cardinals would hold an election to fill the office at the start of a sede vacante.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra preside over the sealing of the papal apartment at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, Monday, April 21, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, Apr 21, 2025 / 16:58 pm (CNA).

Following Pope Francis’ death at age 88 on Easter Monday, the Vatican carried out the first stage in the papal funeral rites, called “the rite of the ascertainment of death and deposition in the coffin.”

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, presided over the rite in the chapel of Pope Francis’ Vatican residence, the Casa Santa Marta, just a little over 12 hours after the pontiff’s death, at 8 p.m. Rome time.

According to the Vatican, the rite took under one hour and the pontiff’s remains will stay overnight in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta.

Farrell — along with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and his deputy Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra — also closed and sealed the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace, as called for by protocol, though Pope Francis chose not to live in the apartment during his pontificate.

The rite on Monday evening was attended by some of Pope Francis’ family members, the director and vice director of the Vatican’s health and hygiene department, and dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re.

After Francis died on the morning of April 21, the director of the Vatican’s health services, Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, examined the pontiff’s body and prepared the death certificate, which said the late pope died from a stroke, coma, and irreversible cardiovascular collapse. The certificate was read during the attestation rite.

Arcangeli also arranged for the proper preservation of the corpse so that its public exposition can be carried out “with the greatest decorum and respect.”

The remains of the deceased Francis were then dressed in his white cassock and moved to the private papal chapel of his Vatican residence for the first part of the funeral rites, which were held at 8 p.m. local time.

During the “rite of the ascertainment of death and deposition in the coffin,” Farrell led the prayers, according to the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, and then the pope’s body was dressed in red liturgical vestments with the miter and pallium and placed in a simple wooden coffin with a zinc lining.

The paschal, or Easter, candle was placed nearby and lit for the next part of the rite, which includes sprinkling holy water on the body. The casket with the pope’s remains was placed within the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta for visitation and prayer until it will be moved for public viewing.

Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, led a rosary for Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square on the evening of April 21.

According to the Holy See Press Office, Francis’ remains may be brought to St. Peter’s Basilica for public exposition on the morning of April 23. The exact date and time will be confirmed by the Vatican on April 22.

The College of Cardinals will meet beginning April 22 to make decisions for the running of the Vatican during the “sede vacante,” the period without a pope, and to decide the date and time of Francis’ funeral and burial.