The death of Pope Francis I was announced on the morning of Easter Monday 2025 in an emotional statement.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, spoke at the Casa Santa Marta inside the Vatican to announce the sad news that the 88-year-old pope had died.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” he said. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.
“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.
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“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.”
As Camerlengo, Cardinal Farrell now takes on an important role as the Catholic Church undergoes a fundamental change, and the 1.4 billion Catholics around the world wait to find out who will be their next leader.
The Camerlengo is the cardinal who acts as the Pope’s financial secretary and treasurer, and is the person who destroys the papal seal – the pope’s ring – upon his death. He will have already cut the ring in half with shears in front of witnesses to symbolise the end of the late Pope’s authority and ensure his seal cannot be used to forge documents.
He will keep hold of the late pope’s last will until it is released to the College of Cardinals. Cardinal Farrell will also be responsible for conducting Francis’ funeral and will be involved in the preparations of the conclave, the body of cardinals that are locked in together until a new pope is elected by ballot.
Pope Francis’ funeral will be carried out in the next few days, but unlike in centuries past, the late pontiff’s burial will be vastly scaled back.
In his final years, the Buenos Aires-born head of the Catholic Church revised his funeral rites, scrapping the centuries-old tradition of having his body placed on an elevated bier in St. Peter’s Basilica to be viewed by members of the public.
Instead, Pope Francis’ body will be placed in view at the Basilica in a simple coffin, where dignitaries and some of the faithful may pay their final respects. And rather than the traditional three coffins made of cypress, lead and oak to contain his body, Francis will be laid to rest in a single, simple coffin.
According to master of liturgical ceremonies, Monsignor Diego Ravelli, this stripping back of more elaborate customs was intended “to emphasise even more that the Roman Pontiff’s funeral is that of a shepherd and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful man of this world.”
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