When Did The Pope Die – April 21, 2025 at 7:35 AM

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at 7:35 AM CEST in his Vatican residence, aged 88. The death was announced publicly by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who confirmed that the Bishop of Rome had “returned to the house of the Father.”

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, had led the Catholic Church for 12 years following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013. He was the first pope from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere, and his papacy was marked by repeated calls for reform, simplicity, and outreach to the poor and marginalized.

The death of the Holy Father came as a shock to many, despite months of declining health. He had appeared in public just one day earlier, on Easter Sunday, blessing crowds from a wheelchair. His passing triggered immediate implementation of the Vatican’s protocols for the death of a pontiff, including the sealing of papal apartments and the convening of cardinals to organize funeral rites and prepare for a conclave.

When Did Pope Francis Die?

What Time Did Pope Francis Die?

Pope Francis died at exactly 7:35 AM CEST on April 21, 2025, in his private residence at Domus Sanctae Marthae within Vatican City. The precise time was confirmed in the official announcement made by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Roman Catholic Church, who stated that the Bishop of Rome had “returned to the house of the Father” at that specific hour.

The announcement was delivered at 9:45 AM, approximately two hours after the pontiff’s death. This timing was notable given that Easter Monday is a major feast day in the Catholic calendar. The death occurred in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, where the rite of death certification and initial coffin placement took place later that evening at 8:00 PM.

Official Announcement Details

Cardinal Farrell addressed the faithful and media outside the Vatican’s press office, saying: “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 tone reflected the solemnity expected of such an announcement, while also emphasizing the pontiff’s lifelong devotion to the Gospel.

Within hours of the announcement, the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica rang 88 times at noon, once for each year of the pontiff’s life. Collaborators and Vatican staff began paying their respects throughout the evening of April 21, with the first rites conducted privately before larger ceremonies began.

How Old Was Pope Francis When He Died?

Pope Francis was 88 years old when he died, having been born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His birth name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, and he was the oldest pope to hold the office since Pope Pius XII, who died in 1958 at age 82.

Health Decline in Recent Years

The pontiff’s respiratory problems dated back to 1957, when he underwent surgery in Argentina to remove part of his lung due to a severe infection. This underlying condition contributed to his vulnerability to respiratory illnesses throughout his life and papacy.

In recent years, his health had become increasingly fragile. He canceled a planned trip to the United Arab Emirates in 2023 after suffering from influenza and lung inflammation. More seriously, he was admitted to Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic on February 14, 2025, for bronchitis, and was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia on February 18. He remained hospitalized for 38 days before being discharged to Casa Santa Marta.

Age and Papacy

At age 88, Pope Francis had served as the Bishop of Rome for 12 years, 1 month, and 8 days. His papacy was the fifth longest in the modern era, and he had indicated on multiple occasions that he had no intention of following the precedent set by Benedict XVI and resigning due to declining health. He chose instead to serve until his death.

Who Is the Current Pope?

There is currently no pope. Following the death of Pope Francis, the See of Rome is vacant—a state the Catholic Church calls sede vacante. The papal apartments have been sealed, and all formal authority has transferred temporarily to the College of Cardinals until a new pontiff is elected.

The Conclave Process

The election of a new pope will take place in a conclave, a process governed by Church law in which eligible cardinal electors gather in the Sistine Chapel to vote on the next Bishop of Rome. The conclave typically begins 15 to 20 days after the death of a pontiff, though the exact date is determined by the College of Cardinals.

According to the provided sources, no date or candidate information for the conclave was available as of April 2025. The first General Congregation of Cardinals met on the morning of April 22 to begin making decisions regarding funeral arrangements, funeral date, and the procedural framework for the conclave itself.

The Previous Transition

Pope Francis was elected following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on February 28, 2013. Benedict XVI cited declining health and strength as the reason for his resignation, becoming the first pope in nearly 600 years to voluntarily step down from the office. Pope Francis was elected on the second day of the conclave, on March 13, 2013.

Death and Funeral of Pope Francis

Pope Francis specified his own funeral arrangements in advance, requesting a simplified rite aligned with a 2024 edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis that he himself had approved. The document emphasized a pastor’s rite over ceremonial pomp, with death ascertainment occurring in the chapel and immediate coffining rather than prolonged lying in state.

Burial Wishes

The pontiff requested burial at Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major, one of the four major basilicas of Rome, rather than in St. Peter’s Basilica beneath the Vatican’s main church. He asked for a simple, undecorated tomb, with the costs funded by an unnamed private benefactor rather than Church resources.

Body Translation and Public Veneration

The body was scheduled to be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on the morning of April 23, 2025, for public veneration before the funeral Mass. Details regarding the timeline were to be confirmed after the first General Congregation of Cardinals met on April 22.

Timeline of Events

The following sequence outlines the key events surrounding the death and initial rites for Pope Francis, drawing from official Vatican reports and confirmed news sources.

1. Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025: Pope Francis makes his final public appearance, blessing crowds from a wheelchair at Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square.
2. April 21, 2025, 7:35 AM CEST: Pope Francis dies at Domus Sanctae Marthae, Vatican City, aged 88.
3. April 21, 2025, 9:45 AM CEST: Cardinal Kevin Farrell publicly announces the pontiff’s death outside the Vatican’s press office.
4. April 21, 2025, Noon: The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica toll 88 times in honor of the deceased pontiff.
5. April 21, 2025, 8:00 PM: Death certification rite and placement in coffin occur in the Casa Santa Marta chapel, validated by Cardinal Farrell. Seals placed on papal apartments.
6. April 22, 2025, Morning: First General Congregation of Cardinals convenes to decide funeral arrangements and conclave procedures.
7. April 23, 2025, Morning: Body transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica for public veneration.

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear

While the fundamental facts of Pope Francis’s death are well established across multiple credible sources, some details remain open to interpretation or have not been fully clarified.

The Context of Pope Francis’s Death

The timing of Pope Francis’s death on Easter Monday held particular symbolic weight. Easter is the most important feast in the Christian calendar, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The pontiff had spent his final days participating in the Paschal Triduum, the holiest period of the liturgical year, and his last public act was blessing crowds at Easter Sunday Mass.

Throughout his papacy, Francis emphasized simplicity, reform, and service to the poor. His decision to live at Domus Sanctae Marthae rather than the traditional papal apartments was one of several gestures signaling a break with the pontifical past. His burial wishes—asking for a simple tomb at Saint Mary Major rather than the elaborate crypt beneath St. Peter’s—further reflected his commitment to humility.

His papacy also faced significant challenges, including the clergy abuse crisis, disagreements within the Church over doctrine and discipline, and debates over the Church’s role in modern society. Despite these pressures, he maintained high approval ratings among Catholics worldwide, particularly for his advocacy on behalf of migrants, the environment, and the economically disadvantaged.

Official Sources and Statements

The following statements come from primary and credible secondary sources covering the death of Pope Francis.

“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.”

— Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo, announcement delivered April 21, 2025, 9:45 AM CEST

“Pope Francis’s death on Easter Monday marks the end of a papacy defined by reform and outreach to the margins. King Charles and Queen Camilla called the news ‘devastating,’ while Argentina mourned its most prominent son.”

— Multiple news reports, April 2025

Primary source coverage came from Vatican News, which provided detailed reporting on the death announcement, initial rites, and planned funeral arrangements. International outlets including BBC News and multiple video reports corroborated the core facts while adding context about the pontiff’s health decline and global reactions.

Summary

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at 7:35 AM CEST in his residence at Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City. He was 88 years old and had led the Catholic Church for 12 years as the first pope from the Americas. His death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, triggering immediate activation of Vatican protocols including the sealing of papal apartments and the convening of cardinals to organize funeral rites and prepare for a conclave.

Funeral rites followed a simplified format that Francis himself had approved, with his body transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica for public veneration before burial at Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major, as he had requested. The See of Rome is now vacant, and the Catholic Church prepares for the election of the next pope in a conclave, the date and proceedings of which will be determined by the College of Cardinals.

For more on related procedural matters, see our coverage of the Vatican’s succession process.

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