Vatican City :- Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church and a transformative figure in modern papal history, has died at the age of 88. The announcement was made on Monday by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, who now oversees Church affairs during the interregnum-the period between papacies.
He had suffered various ailments in his 12 year papacy.
At 9:45 AM on Easter Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, spoke these words at the Casa Santa Marta:
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. 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 of His Church. 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. 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.”
In recent years, Pope Francis’s declining health had raised concerns. He was hospitalised multiple times, particularly for respiratory illnesses. Earlier this year, he was treated for a severe case of double pneumonia. Despite these challenges, he continued to fulfil his duties as spiritual leader, often speaking candidly about mortality and the importance of preparing spiritually for the end of life.
Once the papal vacancy occurs, the cardinals gather for general congregations to discuss the Church’s global challenges and prepare for the upcoming election. These meetings include logistical arrangements for the papal funeral and burial. However, any decisions requiring papal authority, such as appointing bishops, must wait until a new pope is elected.
The conclave itself begins with the cardinals entering the Sistine Chapel to take an oath of secrecy, after which they begin the voting process. Each cardinal casts a secret ballot, which is placed in a chalice after a brief prayer. A candidate needs two-thirds of the votes to be elected, with up to four rounds of balloting occurring daily. If no candidate achieves the required majority, the ballots are burned with chemicals to produce black smoke, signalling no decision has been made.
When a candidate does receive the necessary votes, the senior cardinal dean asks if they accept the election. Upon acceptance, the new pope selects a papal name, dresses in papal vestments, and processes to the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where the senior cardinal deacon announces, “Habemus Papam” (“We have a pope”). The election is confirmed as white smoke rises from the chapel’s chimney, signalling the Church has a new leader.
This process, which combines centuries of tradition with modern-day secrecy, ensures the election of a new pope, continuing the legacy of the Catholic Church’s leadership. The Vatican and the faithful around the world will await the moment when the new pope is revealed, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the Church’s history.