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Pope Francis I | Passing and Legacy
Pope Francis, was born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936. He passed away Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at age 88.
The pope’s funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, April 26 at 10 a.m. Rome time in St. Peter’s Square. It will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.
Read more about Pope Francis’ Legacy
Click here to read Bishop DeGrood’s Official Statement
Pope Francis I’s Pontificate Timeline
(1936) Born
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Italian immigrant parents.
(1958) Vocational Journey
Enters novitiate of the Society of Jesus.
(1969) Ordained
Ordained a priest as a Jesuit by Archbishop Ramon Jose Castellano.
(1973) Final Vows
As a Jesuit, he took vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and to participate in the Pope’s mission.
(1992) Bishop Ordination
On June 27, 1992, he was ordained auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires.
(1998) Installation
On February 28, 1998, he was installed as archbishop of Buenos Aires.
(2001) Cardinal
On February 21, 2001, he was elevated to the College of Cardinals.
(2013) Papacy
On March 13, 2013, he was elected in conclave to be 265th successor to Saint Peter.
(2015) U.S Pilgrimage
Took an apostolic journey to the United States of America.
(2025) Death
On Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, Pope Francis I passed away at the age of 88 in Vatican City.
To learn about what Pope Francis accomplished during his Pontificate, please click here!
Key Terms for a Papal Transition
Apostolic See or Holy See: Pope’s central authority in Rome and worldwide Church leadership
Carmerlengo: A cardinal who administers Church affairs between popes (during the interregnum) and oversees the papal election process.
Cardinal: A senior Church leader, usually a bishop, appointed by the Pope to advise him and elect a new pope.
Consistory: A formal meeting of cardinals, often to appoint new cardinals or make important Church decisions.
Conclave: The secret gathering of cardinals to elect a new pope, held in the Sistine Chapel.
Interregnum: The period between the death or resignation of a pope and the election of his successor.
Novendiales: Nine days of official mourning and Masses after a pope’s death.
Proto-Deacon: The senior-most cardinal deacon, traditionally the one who announces the new pope with “Habemus Papam” from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
For more terms and more detailed definitions, please click here
The Pope Passed, What’s Next? | Conclave
Dr. Chris Burgwald shares the basics and interesting tidbits of the conclave as the Catholic Church selects a new pope. We’ll touch on the process, the secrecy, and the seriousness of what the College of Cardinals is about to do. Did you know that technically any man can be elected pope? Whether you’re a student of Catholic history or just curious about how papal elections work, that and other questions will be answered!
To find out more, see what
Dr. Chris Burgwald has to say: Conclave 101
Resources
Vatican Related News
Looking for trustworthy updates from the Vatican? Check out the Catholic News Agency (CNA) for reliable coverage on news, events, and official statements from the Holy See.
Click here for Vatican-related news stories.
Mourning Period
With the death of Pope Francis on Monday, the Catholic Church has entered a mourning period, which will include nine days of Masses offered for the repose of his soul known as the “Novendiales.”
Rooted in ancient Christian and Roman customs, the Novendiales is a period of nine consecutive days dedicated to mourning the death of a pope. The practice dates back centuries, mirroring the ancient Roman tradition of a nine-day funeral rite.
According to Church law, while the mourning period begins immediately upon the pope’s death, marking the official start of the “sede vacante,” or papal interregnum, the Novendiales will begin on the day of the pope’s funeral, scheduled for April 26, and will be followed by consecutive days of Masses until May 4.