Reuters
The funeral of Pope Francis will take place on Saturday, in front of St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
Preparations have begun for the conclave, the process by which cardinals will elect the next Pope.
How was the death of Pope Francis announced?
Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Easter Monday aged 88.
The Vatican said he died following a stroke and subsequent irreversible heart failure at 07:35 local time (06:35 BST).
His death was announced less than 24 hours after he led an Easter Sunday address in front of thousands of worshipers in St Peter’s Square.
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Pope Francis waved to the crowds from the balcony overlooking St Peter’s Square on Sunday and wished them a happy Easter – his final words in public
It followed a period of ill-health that saw the Pope spend five weeks in hospital with double pneumonia.
Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, was elected Pope in 2013.
Who is in charge after the Pope dies?
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Pope Francis made Kevin Farrell a cardinal in 2016 and named him camerlengo in 2023
The person who runs the Vatican after the death or resignation of a pope is known as the “camerlengo” – currently Irish-American cardinal Kevin Farrell.
He confirmed the Pope’s death, with a doctor and death certificate. No autopsy is performed.
Cardinal Farrell also locks and seals the Pope’s home, and destroys the Pope’s ring and lead seal, which is used to authenticate official documents.
The camerlengo is also responsible for organising the conclave.
They can become pope, but this has only happened twice: Gioacchino Pecci (Pope Leo XIII) in 1878 and Eugenio Pacelli (Pope Pius XII) in 1939.
What will happen at the Pope’s funeral?
The Pope’s funeral will take place on Saturday, 26 April at 10:00 local time (09:00 BST).
Papal funerals have historically been very elaborate, but instructions set out by Francis are much simpler.
He will be the first Pope in more than a century not to be buried in the crypt of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Instead, he will be laid to rest in Rome’s Basilica of St Mary Major.
Francis asked to be buried in a simple wooden casket lined with zinc – unlike his predecessors, who were buried in three nesting coffins made of cypress, lead and oak.
Dozens of world leaders and religious figures are expected to attend the funeral, alongside thousands of worshippers.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and French President Emmanuel Macron have said they will attend, as has EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
From Wednesday, the Pope’s casket will be displayed in St Peter’s Basilica for members of the public to pay their respects.
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How is a new Pope chosen?
The new Pope is elected by the College of Cardinals. They are all men who were appointed by the Pope and are usually ordained bishops.
There are currently 252 Catholic cardinals, but only 135 can cast ballots as those over the age of 80 can take part in debate but cannot vote.
Traditionally the conclave doesn’t start until after a 15-day mourning period.
However, in 2013, Francis’s predecessor Benedict changed the rules to allow it to begin earlier if the cardinals wished.
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How does the conclave work?
During the voting period, the cardinals are cut off from the outside world – denied phones and access to the internet or newspapers.
They sleep in Casa Santa Marta, a five-story guesthouse within the Vatican complex.
The election is held in strict secrecy inside the Sistine Chapel, famously painted by Michelangelo.
Each cardinal votes for the candidate they wish to become Pope. They can vote for themselves if they wish.
A new Pope is elected when a candidate has 90 votes – which can take several rounds.
In previous centuries, conclaves have gone on for weeks or months. Some cardinals have even died during the process.
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How is smoke used to announce the new Pope?
To the outside world, the only information about how the conclave is progressing is smoke from the chapel’s chimney when ballot papers are burned after each round of voting.
Black smoke signals failure. White smoke means a new Pope has been chosen.
The new Pope normally appears on the balcony overlooking St Peter’s Square within an hour of his selection.
The senior cardinal confirms the decision with the words “Habemus Papam” – Latin for “we have a Pope” – and introduces the new pontiff by his chosen papal name, which may not be his original given name.
For example, Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, but chose his papal name to honour St Francis of Assisi.
Who can become Pope?
In theory, any Roman Catholic man who has been baptised can be considered.
In practice, however, the cardinals prefer to select one of their own.
In 2013, Francis became the first pontiff to hail from South America – a region that accounts for around 28% of the world’s Catholics – and the southern hemisphere.
Historical precedent suggests the cardinals are far more likely to pick a European – and especially an Italian. Of the 266 popes chosen to date, 217 have been from Italy.
Several Vatican analysts have suggested Francis’s successor could come from outside Europe – not least because the late Pope appointed more than 140 cardinals from beyond the continent.
What does the Pope do?
The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and is an important source of authority for the world’s roughly 1.4 billion Roman Catholics.
They believe the Pope represents a direct line back to Jesus Christ. He is considered a living successor to St Peter, who was chief among Christ’s initial disciples, the Apostles.
About half of all Christians worldwide are Roman Catholics. Other denominations, including Protestants and Orthodox Christians, do not recognise the Pope’s authority.
The Pope lives in Vatican City, the smallest independent state in the world. It is surrounded by the Italian capital, Rome.
The Pope does not receive a salary, but all his travel costs and living expenses are paid for by the Vatican.
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