Pope Francis died: A great renewer of the church leaves from us!

Pope Francis died: A great renewer of the church leaves from us!

In the morning of Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, Pope Francis died at the age of 88. The Vatican announced that the cause of death was severe pneumonia. Most recently, Francis performed publicly on Easter Sunday when he granted the blessing "Urbi et orbi".

In the first reactions to the death of the Pope, numerous personalities paid tribute to his contribution to the Catholic Church and on social issues. The Limburg bishop Georg Bätzing described him as a "brave renewer" and "Great Pope", who opened new ways of coexistence through the general meetings of the World Synod 2023 and 2024. Hesse's Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU) called Francis a "human fisherman" and hope. He emphasized the clear point of view of the Pope in dealing with sexual abuse within the church and praised his worldwide commitment to peace, social justice and environmental protection.

support rituals and the sedis vacancy

After the Pope's death, a defined protocol is observed. The papal treasurer, Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, officially determined death and carries out the necessary rituals. However, the Pope's apartment is not immediately sealed and the staff can remain until the funeral. The fishing ring, a symbol of papal power, is removed and the body of the late Pope is brought to its private chapel. There he gets a red robe and is bedded in a zinc coffin, which in turn is embedded in a wooden coffin.

The burial will take place in the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, which corresponds to Francis's wish. An autopsy is not carried out, and the traditional hammer ritual for confirmation of death was also abolished in 2005. Among other things, the rogitum, a certificate of his life and his term of office, is enclosed as grave goods.

After the funeral, a nine -day mourning period, known as the Novendia, begins in the course of which daily trade fairs are held. During the Sedisvacanz, the Cardinal College rules the Catholic Church, but has no decision to make a decision for fundamental changes.

choice of a new Pope

A choice of a new Pope, also called a conclave, can begin at least 20 days after death. Cardinals under the age of 80 are entitled to vote. In the choice that takes place secret and is carried out in the Sistine chapel, 2/3 of the votes are required to choose a new Pope. The process generally did not take longer than four days.

in the Catholic Church, which now has to think through some of its complicated rituals, the death of Pope Francis is an important event that will have a profound effect on the community of faith. The bells of Rome traditionally ring after the death of the Pope and remind of his life's work and its influence on the church and the world.