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Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. The news was announced at 9:45 am local time by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber. According to the Cardinal, the Pope's death occurred at 7.35 am local time. Reflecting on the late pope, Cardinal Kevin said:
"He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized."
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The death of Pope Francis may spark questions about who the next pope would be and how the selection process works. The College of Cardinals is responsible for overseeing the election of the new pope.
According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, a secret meeting called a conclave is held in Rome by the College of Cardinals. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to cast their votes to elect the new pope. As per the Times of India, as of April, there are 135 cardinals eligible to vote.
No discussion from within the conclave is ever disclosed, and the cardinals take an oath of secrecy. The dean of the College of Cardinals then asks the cardinal who receives the required two-thirds vote whether he accepts the position of pope. If he agrees, the cardinal takes up a papal name and becomes the new pope.
Pope Francis was admitted to the hospital earlier this year for a few weeks
The news of Pope Francis' passing came about two months after he was admitted to the hospital for around five weeks. The Vatican initially confirmed that the late pope was suffering from a respiratory tract infection.
According to ABC News, just a few days after his hospitalization, the Vatican revealed that the late pope was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia. The pope's passing drew many mourners who gathered at St. Peter's Square. He died just a day after visiting St. Peter's Square to wish everyone on Easter.
Meanwhile, several prominent figures, including members of the British royal family, paid tribute to the late pope. In a statement released on Monday, King Charles said:
"His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others."
World leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Kenyan President William Ruto, and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof also offered their condolences.
Netizens flooded social media platforms with condolences following the Pope's death in his 80s.
Pope Francis became the head of the Catholic Church in February 2013. His election followed the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, according to CNN. The outlet also confirmed that Pope Francis was the first Latin American pope.
