Pope Francis participates in the celebration of the Holy Liturgy at the Church of St. Peter, on January 6, 2025. Credit Line: Marco Iacobucci / IPA-AGENCY.NET / ZUMA Press / Profimedia
Pope Francis died on Monday morning at 8.35 (Romania time), and the probable cause of death was a stroke, according to rumors circulating in the Vatican, writes Corriere della Sera.
According to the Italian daily, an announcement about Pope Francis's death will be made soon by the Vatican.
The death of the Pontiff has occurred one day after the Pope had his first prolonged public appearance since he was discharged, on March 23, after a 38 -day hospitalization for pneumonia.
The pope was 88 years old and had suffered from various conditions in the 12 years of papacy.
Unlike many predecessors, Pope Francis will not be buried in the crypt of Saint Peter, but in the Basilica of Saint Mary of Rome, as he wished.
-+Pope's coffin will be deposited in the chapel of his residence starting Monday evening
The confirmation ritual of Pope Francis will take place on Monday evening, at 21:00 (19:00 GMT), at his residence in the Santa Marta House, in the chapel to which he will be submitted, EFE, taken over by Agerpres.
The Vatican's Master of Ceremonies, Diego Ravelli, said in a statement that the coffin will be deposited in the chapel of his residence, as established during the life of the pontiff, because before Francisc this took place in the chapel of the Apostolic Palace.
Last year, the Sovereign Pontiff simplified the funeral rites in the document “Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis” and, among others, stipulated that his body be deposited in his chapel instead of the palace and to be exposed to the believers in an open coffin instead of a catafalc in Bazilica.
His death, at the age of 88 and after a difficult convalescence due to his respiratory problems, marks the beginning of the protocol that will regulate its funerals and, afterwards, within 20 days, convene a conclave for choosing a successor.
On Monday morning, the bells of St. Peter's basilics sound specific to the sleeping ones, and the next step will be the confirmation ritual, which will be led by American Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell this evening. His body will then be placed in the coffin and deposited in the chapel of his residence.
Everything will take place in the Pope's apartment in the Santa Marta House, the Vatican's residence, because, since its election in 2013, Francis has decided not to live in the Apostolic Palace.
The master of ceremonies invited all the cardinals, members of the Pontiff's Sovereign family and other Vatican authorities to take part in the ritual.
