After a five-week stay, he was released in late March and appeared publicly for the last time during the Easter Sunday Mass in Vatican City.
His death was met with grief and reverence worldwide. Cardinal Farrell reflected:
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised… With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
The Conclave Begins: The Next Pope
With Pope Francis’ passing, the Church enters sede vacante (the seat being vacant), a transitional period before the election of a new pope.
The College of Cardinals—the highest-ranking bishops in the Catholic Church—will soon gather in Vatican City for a conclave to select his successor.
As outlined in the 2024 Academy Award-winning film The Conclave, the cardinals will meet in the Sistine Chapel to vote by secret ballot.
