Pope Francis dead at 88 years old

A picture shows a Catholic cardinal sealing Pope Francis' residence after his death on Monday.

Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell was seen sealing the door to the papal bedroom and studio at the Vatican shortly after the announcement of the pontiff's death.

It is traditional to seal the pope's doors after his death, which will be followed by a nine-day mourning period called Novemdiales.

U.S. presidents mourned the death of Pope Francis, who served as the leader of the Catholic Church for 12 years, on Monday following the Vatican’s announcement of the pope’s passing. 

"Rest in Peace Pope Francis!" President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Monday. "May God Bless him and all who loved him!"

The College of Cardinals elected Pope Francis, 88, to serve as the pope following Pope Benedict XVI in March 2013. His election marked the first time a non-European served as pope in more than 1,000 years. Pope Francis, born with the name Jorge Mario Bergoglio, originally hailed from Argentina. 

Read the full article about Pope Francis by Diana Stancy

For over 12 years, Pope Francis, who died on Monday at 88 years old, worked tirelessly to preserve unity within the Church and its allies, including the British royal family.

Prince William will attend the funeral services for Pope Francis in representation of the royal family, royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital. 

Additionally, says Turner, "Flags are being lowered at half-mast on Royal residences and during the Changing of the Guard daily ceremonies, sombre music will be played."

Read the full article about Prince William by Christina Dugan Ramirez

The City of New Orleans issued a heartfelt message about the death of Pope Francis on Monday, calling the deceased pontiff a "guiding light for millions, embodying the values of love, mercy, and inclusion."

"On behalf of the City of New Orleans, Mayor LaToya Cantrell extends her heartfelt condolences to the family of Pope Francis, the Vatican, and the global Catholic community on the passing of His Holiness," the statement read.

"We invite the people of New Orleans to prayerfully reflect on the life and legacy of Pope Francis a spiritual leader who dedicated his life to compassion, humility, and justice for all. We honor his unwavering commitment to human dignity, social equity, and peace."

"It is our prayer that he now rests in God's eternal peace."

Vatican officials released Pope Francis' will on Monday evening, hours after the pontiff passed away of a stroke.

The will was written in June 2022 and explains the pope's preferences for his burial.

"Feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching and with lively hope in the Eternal Life, I wish to express my testamentary will only with regard to the place of my Burial," the will begins.

"I have always entrusted my life and the priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Mary Most Holy. Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest waiting for the day of the resurrection in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore," the document continues.

Francis said that he wanted his "last earthly journey to end in this ancient sanctuary."

The will also asks for Francis to be buried in the earth, "without particular decorum and with the only inscription: Franciscus."

Fox News' Thomas Ferraro contributed to this update.

Pope Francis, who changed the face of the papacy, was broadly popular with the more than 60 million U.S. Catholics, according to recent public opinion polling.

Seventy-eight percent of American Catholics expressed a favorable opinion of the pope in a Pew Poll conducted in early February, shortly before Francis' lengthy hospitalization for a case of double pneumonia.

The 88-year-old pope died on Monday. Francis' popularity among American Catholics was constant throughout his dozen-year tenure as pope, with his favorability peaking at 90% in a February 2015 poll by Pew.

Read the full article about Pope Francis by Paul Steinhauser

Pope Francis died of a cerebral stroke, according to an update by Vatican officials on Monday afternoon.

Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, the head of the Vatican’s health department, said that the stroke put him into a coma and led to irreversible heart failure.

Arcangeli added that Francis also suffered from episodes of "respiratory insufficiency," as well as his recent bilateral pneumonia. The pope also suffered from type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

The Associated Press contributed to this update.

Faith leaders from across the country are sharing reaction and insight with Fox News Digital as the world mourns the loss of Pope Francis, who died at age 88 on Monday, April 21.

Francis served for 12 years as pontiff. He was the first Jesuit to serve as pope of the Roman Catholic Church. 

Dr. Alex McFarland, youth, religion and culture expert, is the author of more than 20 books. He told Fox News Digital on Monday morning, "Christians everywhere, regardless of affiliation, should extend loving condolences and prayers for Catholic believers who are mourning the loss of Pope Francis. Belief in the Triune God and in Christ, the Son, unites us (I John 5:1), along with so many other core truths of the Christian faith. Let us unite in prayer for the Catholic Church to be clearly led at this time by God’s Holy Spirit and His Word."

Pastor Wendell Vinson, co-founder of CityServe and based in Bakersfield, California, told Fox News Digital, "Today, we join with the Catholic Church and people of faith across the globe in mourning the death of Pope Francis. A man known for his humility and care for the least of these, his life is a shining example of service to those the world has often overlooked. 

"This same spirit characterized his work on behalf of the persecuted and oppressed around the world."

Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, shared with Fox News Digital, "Catholics around the globe are mourning the death of Pope Francis. He touched millions of the faithful, including non-Catholics and non-believers. When Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio assumed the role of Pope Francis, his down-to-earth style captured the plaudits of Catholics and non-Catholics alike. It was his unscripted, and often spontaneous, manner of speaking that made him so authentic and appealing."

Fox News' Ashley Papa contributed to this report.

After the death of a pope, the College of Cardinals is responsible for gathering at the Sistine Chapel and electing a new sovereign of the Vatican and Roman Catholic Church.

In December 2024, Pope Francis installed 21 new cardinals at a consistory. In 1970, Pope Paul VI set a 120-man limit to a papal conclave, a meeting or election of the College of Cardinals.

At the time Pope Francis expanded the college to 142 men, his 10th consistory during his reign as the pope, controversial selections sparked whispers in the Catholic community regarding Pope Francis' agenda for the duration of his papacy and after his death.

Ukrainian Greek Catholic, Mykola Bychok, 44, was revealed as one of Pope Francis' cardinal picks in October 2024. The decision received backlash as Major Archbishop of Kyiv, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, was passed over for red cassocks and headgear. Shevchuk was critical of Pope Francis' reaction to the ongoing war with Russia, though Pope Francis accepted an invitation from the archbishop to visit Ukraine in 2025.

Pope Francis most recently maintained a prominent Italian presence in the college installing five new cardinals from across Italy.

While the consistory is overflowing, only 138 cardinals will vote in the next election as senior members above 80 years old cannot vote.

Italian prelate Pietro Parolin, 70, is a senior cardinal bishop, a high ranking position in the College of Cardinals. Parolin is the highest ranking member of the college under the age of 80. Parolin is considered a "moderate" cardinal in the church. 

The two most senior cardinal bishops are Italian prelate Giovanni Battista Re, 91, and Argentine prelate Leonardo Sandri, 81. 

Thai prelate Michael Michai Kitbunchu, 96, Asia's oldest cardinal, is the most senior ranking cardinal priest.

During his papacy, Pope Francis made efforts to be more inclusive of Catholics in the LGBTQ+ community and remarked on same-sex civil unions.

Italian prelate Matteo Zuppi is pro-LGBTQ and made headlines when he was accused of holding a mass to bless a same-sex couple. He is floated as a possible replacement to Pope Francis.

Hungarian prelate Peter Erdö is being tossed around as a replacement to Pope Francis and is considered a conservative who devotes his personal faith to the Virgin Mary.

Former President Bill Clinton released a statement Monday saying “Hillary and I mourn the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis and celebrate his remarkable life and legacy: promoting peace, economic inclusion, and social justice, and fighting climate change, particularly its threat to the lives and livelihoods of the world’s poorest citizens.” 

“By his own example, he taught that every human being’s personal search – even a Pope’s -- for a purposeful life was meaningful and important, and that power and politics must always make room for compassion and coexistence,” Clinton continued. 

“We join with countless millions of people around the world, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, in prayers of gratitude for a life well lived, rooted in faith, filled with energy and purpose, and dedicated to reconciliation and cooperation,” he added. 

Pope Francis has rarely clashed publicly with world leaders since being elected to the Catholic Church’s top job in 2013, instead taking a diplomatic approach to world affairs.

Pope Francis became the first Pope to be invited to speak in front of the G7 Summit last year, where he warned world leaders about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence.

The Pope has met with many world leaders in recent years, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and King Charles III, the latter of whom visited Francis at the Vatican.

When it comes to American president’s, the Pope has at times had a rocky relationship. In a 2022 interview, the pope described former President Biden’s stance on abortion rights an “incoherence,” given Biden’s Catholic faith.

Francis has also clashed with President Donald Trump, who the Pope was highly critical of during his 2016 bid for president and throughout his first term in office.

Those clashes with Trump continued into Trump’s second stint in the Oval Office, with Francis recently speaking out against Trump’s border and immigration enforcement efforts.

Fox News' Michael Lee contributed reporting.

Crowds are gathering at St. Patrick's Cathedral Monday in New York City to mourn the loss of Pope Francis. 

A photograph of Francis was placed on the altar, alongside flowers. 

Francis visited New York City in 2015, stopping by the 9/11 Memorial to place a rose, in addition to holding a mass at Madison Square Garden and driving through Central Park in the Popemobile. 

Around two-thirds of the number of cardinals currently eligible to vote in a conclave were appointed by Pope Francis, a report said. 

Francis appointed 81 men who are still under the age of 80, the LaCroix International newspaper reported in June 2023.  

It added that those cardinals will become part of a 121-member group who are eligible to choose the next pope in a conclave. 

An extremely diverse group of Catholic pontiffs have headed the Church through periods of ostracism, growth, schism and upheaval.

Peter was the first pope, serving for 34 years. Anointed by Jesus to lead his church, Peter spread his word before being crucified under Emperor Nero.

Evaristus, the first non-Italian pope, was elected in 96 AD. The Grecian Evaristus’ Jewish father was from Bethlehem.

The youngest pope, elected in 1032, was Benedict IX. Historians believe he was 12 when elected. He was ousted multiple times during his volatile tenure. He became pope on three separate occasions before his death in 1056.

Elected during the Renaissance in 1471, Pope Sixtus IV elevated the Church’s stature by overseeing construction projects in Rome, employing renowned artists in the construction of the Sistine Chapel, named after Sixtus himself.

The shortest-tenured pope, Urban VII, reigned just 13 days before his death from malaria in 1590. During his brief reign, he proposed anti-nepotism and health measures in Rome.

The oldest living pontiff, Leo XIII died in 1903 at 93 years old after a 25-year tenure.

Pope John XXIII responded to increased secularism by convening the Second Vatican Council in 1962. Spawning enduring and continuing change, the council increased outreach outside the Church and allowed masses to be offered in local languages.

The first Polish pope and the youngest elected in over a century, John Paul II was just 58 when elected in 1978. John Paul II apologized to groups wronged by Catholics through history and advocated against violence.

Pope Benedict XVI, was the first pope to resign in some 600 years, in 2013 at 85. During his tenure, Benedict embraced technology and addressed priests’ abuse of children.

Fox News' Beth Bailey contributed reporting.

Upon the death of a pope, the camerlengo of the Holy Catholic Church is the first to be notified.

The named camerlengo runs the Vatican in case of a pope's death or resignation until a new one is elected.

When a pope is anticipated dead, the camerlengo formally determines the pope's passing by calling out his baptismal name three times. If there is no response, the pope is pronounced dead. 

Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell -- a former Dallas, Texas, bishop -- is the present camerlengo. He was appointed by Pope Francis in 2019.

During this time, the pope's ring and bulla, a lead seal, are destroyed in the presence of other cardinals as a symbol that his reign has ended and to prevent misuse of his signature on formal documents. Additionally, the pope's papal apartments are locked to forbid looting and the protection of his will.

Word that the pope has passed moves through official channels to notify the College of Cardinals, the vicar of Rome, Cardinal Baldassare Reina, and then the public.

Bishop Robert Barron, a widely read Catholic commentator and author, paid tribute to Pope Francis for a papacy marked by "mercy and evangelization" after the news of his death on Monday.

Barron, who leads the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota and is the founder of the popular Catholic ministerial organization Word on Fire, praised Francis for recognizing the "destructiveness of sin."

"Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, has reached the end of his earthly pilgrimage," Bishop Barron wrote in a statement shared with Fox News Digital. "Pope Francis was a great pastor who spoke from the heart and with tender affection."

"I had the pleasure of meeting with Pope Francis several times during his papacy," Bishop Barron continued. "On the occasions when he and I spoke, his comments would burn their way into my heart and mind. During a meeting with my fellow bishops, he reminded us that ‘the first task of a bishop is to pray.’" 

"Pope Francis’ papacy was marked by two master themes: mercy and evangelization," Barron wrote. "In an interview, he famously remarked that the Church is a field hospital to those wounded by our postmodern, relativistic society. It must, first and foremost, heal the wounds. Pope Francis had a keen awareness of the destructiveness of sin, and he encouraged the Church to show the world the merciful face of Christ. He also emphasized the importance of our personal witness to the light of faith, drawing others to the life-giving joy of the Gospel."

The tradition of adopting a new name became common practice for newly-elected leaders of the Catholic Church by the eleventh century.

Roman pontiff “Mercurius” was the first pope to adopt a new name after ascending to his position in 533 AD. Feeling that he would “dishonor” his office with his pagan name, Mercurius became Pope John II, according to St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church.

Newly-chosen pontiffs may select their names for a variety of reasons. Some popes, including John II, chose names that honor a martyred predecessor. Others, like Pope Francis, selected names that signal their plans for the papacy. When selected for the role in 2013, Pope Francis told followers that he intended to emulate St. Francis of Assisi, “the man of the poor. The man of peace. The man who loved and cared for creation.”

In 1099, Pope Sergius IV, born Peter, chose his name out of respect for the first pope of the Catholic Church, St. Peter. No subsequent pope has named himself Peter.

Fox News' Beth Bailey contributed to this report.

If there is any one thing that can be agreed upon by all parties about Pope Francis’s pontificate it is that it was disruptive and ambiguous on several levels. Many will rush to make an assessment of his legacy but this is premature, if not injurious. After all, we are still assessing past pontificates -- never mind the broader legacy of Vatican II -- and their implications for the life of the Church.

Despite the widespread and immediate attention given papal homilies, allocutions, documents, and international visits, it is helpful to remember that, until recently, Catholics rarely heard from the pope directly.

Pope Francis’s off-the-cuff remarks, often mid-flight, sometimes referred to as the "Airplane Magisterium," have caused confusion and often necessitated clarification from the Vatican. While his approach to the environment has earned him the moniker "The Green Pope," in practice he pretty much aligned with the teachings of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, particularly on population and life issues. In fact, to the surprise of some who have only superficially followed his pontificate, his stance on abortion was uncompromising -- calling it "homicidal" and even likening it to "hiring a hitman" -- even if he suggested it ought not be the constant focus.

At the inception of his papacy, Francis's call to "make a mess" in the Church led to debates, divisions, and polarization. Perhaps surfacing these differences was a good thing. But it is possible, and likely, this may cause the cardinal electors in the upcoming conclave to select a more stabilizing figure.

Many people today see the Catholic Church as largely anachronistic, closed, and harsh -- not at all empathetic to the real-life problems people face. Pope Francis seemed bent on deconstructing that perception by presenting a merciful, open, and maternal face of the Church. He might say that it is not enough to teach people what the Catechism says, we must inspire them to live it.

As the Church prepares for its next chapter, the lessons of Pope Francis's papacy will undoubtedly shape its future trajectory. His legacy remains a work in progress, a testament to the evolving nature of the papal role in the modern world.

Before Pope Francis was elected by the College of Cardinals in 2013, Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger, served the Roman Catholic Church from 2005-2013.

Ratzinger was born in Bavaria, Germany. Upon witnessing horrific acts during the Nazi regime, he desired to commit to the church at a young age. Ratzinger and his family experienced abuse and punishment at the hands of the Nazi Party. Despite his resolute disdain for the regime, at 14 years old, the Law on the Hitler Youth forced Ratzinger to join the paramilitary organization. 

During his enrollment in the seminary , Ratzinger was drafted into World War II, putting his theology teachings on hold. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war by Americans for several months. Upon his release, he left the military and was ordained in 1951 alongside his brother. 

Ratzinger was elected pope in 2005 and, during his papacy at the Vatican, preached a message of God's eternal love, encouraged Catholics to remain faithful to God and implored the presence of love, joy and truth in life.

Citing health concerns, Ratzinger was the first pope to resign the papacy in 600 years in 2013.

He died at 95 years old in 2022.

Vice President JD Vance was one of the last visitors of Pope Francis before the first Jesuit to lead the Catholic Church died at age 88. 

Vance met with Francis briefly on Sunday to exchange Easter greetings in one of the reception rooms of the Vatican hotel where he'd been living since being released from Rome's Gemmlli Hospital on March 23. 

The pope had been hospitalized for five weeks after surviving a severe case of pneumonia. 

The 88-year-old pope on Sunday offered the Catholic vice president three big chocolate Easter eggs for Vance’s three young children, who did not attend, as well as a Vatican tie and rosaries.

"I know you have not been feeling great, but it’s good to see you in better health," Vance told the pope. "Thank you for seeing me."

Vance acknowledged news of the pope's death early Monday. 

The year 2025 has been designated as a Jubilee Year, a time of spiritual significance in the Catholic Church. Its origins trace back to the Old Testament’s Book of Leviticus, where Jews observed a sacred period focused on returning to God.

The first Jubilee year according to a Vatican fact sheet was proclaimed in 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII. Some two million pilgrims were said to have visited Rome during that year.

On December 24, 2024, Pope Francis , known as “The Vicar of Christ on Earth,” opened the Holy Doors of St. Peter’s Basilica to Catholic pilgrims worldwide as a symbol of grace and forgiveness. Italy is expecting over 32 million tourists to visit the country this year as pilgrims come to mark the Jubilee.

Pope Francis was set to preside over Jubilee ceremonies, drawing Catholics eager to see him in Vatican City. However, his death has now cast a sad shadow over a time meant for joy, reflection, and renewal.

Fox News' Jacqliene Mangini contributed reporting.

Over the course of his 12 years as the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88, connected with many of Hollywood's elite.

"Titanic" star Leonardo DiCaprio met with the pope for a quick conversation while filming the documentary "Before the Flood" for National Geographic in 2016.

George and Amal Clooney met Pope Francis in May 2016, when they attended the "Un Muro o Un Ponte," held by the religious leader at the Paul VI Hall in Vatican City.

While at the event, Clooney was recognized for his work with the Pope's arts foundation, Scholas Occurrentes, and was presented with the Olive Medal of Peace.

Angelina Jolie met Pope Francis in January 2015, when she was invited to a private screening of her film, "Unbroken," held at the Vatican. 

Mark Wahlberg met Pope Francis when the leader of the Catholic Church visited the United States in 2015.

As part of his trip, he attended the Festival of Families in Philadelphia, where Wahlberg, an outspoken Catholic, acted as the master of ceremonies for the evening. 

President Donald Trump ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff Monday following the death of Pope Francis.

The declaration comes after Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis! May God bless him and all who loved him!”

"I just signed an executive order putting the flags of our country, all of them, all federal flags and state flags at half mast in honor of Pope Francis," Trump said Monday. "He was a good man, worked hard. He loved the world. And it's an honor to do that."

The White House released a proclamation from Trump stating: “As a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on the day of interment.

“I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations,” Trump added.

Trump, appearing Monday at the White House's annual Easter Egg Roll event, also said "Easter is special.

"And it's one of our favorite days. It's one of our favorite periods of time. We're honoring Jesus Christ. And, we're going to honor Jesus Christ very powerfully throughout our lives, all throughout our lives. Not just now, all throughout our lives," Trump said. "We're bringing religion back in America. We're bringing a lot of things back. But religion is coming back to America. That's why you see the kind of numbers that you are seeing, the spirit and the kind of numbers that you're seeing.” 

U.S. President Donald Trump and various other world leaders issued comments responding to the news that Pope Francis passed away on Monday.

"Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!" Trump declared in a post on Truth Social.

Vice President JD Vance, who had just met with the pontiff on Easter Sunday, noted that he was happy to see the pope, who was clearly quite ill.

"I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID," Vance said in a post on X, along with a link to the homily. "It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul." 

The White House X account issued a post that read, "Rest in Peace, Pope Francis."

Just a few days after becoming pope, Pope Francis revealed his burial wishes upon his death.

In March 2013, Pope Francis was elected during a conclave by the Cardinals of the Catholic Church following Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to step down amid health concerns.

"It was his belief that he may not live very long," Neomi DeAnda, a trained constructive theologian, told Fox News Digital. "He was already in his 70s when he was elected pope, and he wanted to be prepared when God called him home."

Pope Francis selected the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore as his final resting place.

"It has some significance for his grandparents," DeAnda told Fox News Digital. "His grandparents were the ones who immigrated to Argentina with his dad and, I believe that they lived close to and visited that Basilica."

"That has been his favorite place to visit," DeAnda also said. "It's a place that he goes to every time that he is going on a trip. He goes there to pray before he goes on a trip."

Though controversial, one of the least contentious 2025 Oscar-nominated films was "Conclave," an Edward Berger-directed mystery thriller starring Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini and Stanley Tucci, which brings to life the political and religious traditions regarding how Catholic cardinals elect a new pope.

The conclave will gather again in actuality as the Vatican revealed that Pope Francis, 88, the leader of the Catholic Church, passed on April 21, 2025, the day after Easter Sunday.

Though released in October 2024, "Conclave" struck a deep chord with viewers as Pope Francis’ declining health was made known to the public in February 2025. Pope Francis battled bilateral pneumonia in the months before his death.

The film closely follows the novel of the same name written by author Robert Harris.

"That was fairly accurate," Dennis Doyle, professor emeritus at the University of Dayton in Ohio, told Fox News Digital. Doyle taught at the Catholic research university for 40 years.

"There were just a few differences, like some of the Latin wasn't exact, the carpet was red in the movie and its beige in real life," Doyle said. "The seating arrangements were done very dramatically in the movie. They're not exactly that way in real life. And even the way the voting was done was not exactly the same."

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said Monday that “the Bishops of the United States unite in prayer with Catholics here and around the world and all people of good will in gratitude for the life of our revered shepherd.” 

“We mourn the passing of our Holy Father and beg Saint Joseph to accompany him. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord,” Broglio said in a statement following the death of Pope Francis. 

“Pope Francis will long be remembered for his outreach to those on the margins of the Church and of society. He renewed for us the mission to bring the Gospel out to the ends of the earth and offer divine mercy to all,” Broglio added. “He has also taken advantage of the present Jubilee to call us to a profound hope: one that is not an empty or naïve hope, but one grounded in the promise of Almighty God to be with us always.” 

A death verification ceremony for Pope Francis will happen at 2 p.m. ET today in the chapel adjacent to his Saint Martha residence inside Vatican City.   

After the body lies in rest in the chapel, the cardinal serving as the pope’s camerlengo, the Vatican official who manages the papal household, will make the arrangements for the funeral. He is also tasked with running the Vatican until a new pope is elected. The current camerlengo is Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, appointed by Francis in 2019.

The deceased pope will be dressed in his simple white cassock and red vestments, then placed in a simple wooden coffin. This will be carried in procession to St. Peter’s Basilica, where the public viewing will take place for the next three days. 

A Vatican spokesperson said Monday that “the transfer of the body of the Holy Father to the Vatican Basilica for the homage of all the faithful could take place on Wednesday morning.” 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Pope Francis and President Donald Trump first met in 2017 at the Vatican in a cordial meeting amid papal criticisms of Trump’s border policies at the time. 

Trump and the pope have tussled over immigration policies and the environment across the years, including Pope Francis taking swipes at political leaders who were working to build border walls in their country. 

Trump was raised Presbyterian and is married to Catholic first lady Melania Trump. 

"Builders of walls, be they made of razor wire or bricks, will end up becoming prisoners of the walls they build," Pope Francis said in 2019 in an apparent swipe at Trump’s border policies. He continued, "I realize that with this problem [of migration], a government has a hot potato in its hands, but it must be resolved differently, humanely, not with razor wire."

The comment was followed by a 2016 remark that anyone who builds a wall to keep migrants out of a country was "not a Christian." Trump responded at the time: “For a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful.”

Pope Francis again took issue with Trump’s immigration policies this year, arguing in a letter that the forceful removal of people simply for their immigration status deprives them of their inherent dignity and "will end badly."

Trump administration official Tom Homan, who serves as the country’s border czar, hit back at the latest Pope Francis critique with “harsh words.”

"I've got harsh words for the pope: I say this as a lifelong Catholic. He ought to focus on his work and leave enforcement to us. He's got a wall around the Vatican, does he not?" Homan told Fox News in February. 

Fox News' Emma Colton contributed reporting.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres mourned the loss of Pope Francis Monday by saying that he “was a man of faith for all faiths -- working with people of all beliefs and backgrounds to light a path forward.” 

“Through the years, the United Nations was greatly inspired by his commitment to the goals and ideals of our organization -- a message I conveyed in my meetings with him as Secretary-General,” Guterres said in a statement. 

“In his historic 2015 visit to United Nations headquarters, he spoke of the organization’s ideal of a ‘united human family.’ Pope Francis also understood that protecting our common home is, at heart, a deeply moral mission and responsibility that belongs to every person,” Guterres added. 

“Our divided and discordant world will be a much better place if we follow his example of unity and mutual understanding in our own actions,” he also said. “I offer my deepest condolences to Catholics and all those around the world inspired by the extraordinary life and example of Pope Francis.” 

Former President Barack Obama described Pope Francis as “the rare leader who made us want to be better people.  

“In his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound -- embracing the sick, ministering to the homeless, washing the feet of young prisoners -- he shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another,” Obama said Monday following Francis’ death. 

“Today, Michelle and I mourn with everyone around the world -- Catholic and non-Catholic alike -- who drew strength and inspiration from the Pope’s example,” Obama added. “May we continue to heed his call to ‘never remain on the sidelines of this march of living hope.’” 

Pope Francis, 88, the oldest pope in over a century, died Monday morning, though quiet discussions on who could succeed him have reportedly already begun.  

While any male Catholic could in theory be chosen to sit in the papal seat, historically, succeeding popes have been selected from the Sacred College of Cardinals since 1378, according to Religion News Service.  

Currently, there are 252 cardinals in the body who have been selected by the Holy Father to serve as his advisors and assistants.   

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, of Italy, is the Vatican’s secretary of state and the highest-ranking diplomat in the Holy See, which is the governing body of the Catholic Church. He is believed to be among the cardinals most likely to be elected to the top position. 

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, of the Philippines, is also believed to be a frontrunner among voting cardinals and serves as the pro-prefect for the section of first evangelization of the Dicastery for Evangelization, as well as president of the Interdicasterial Commission for Consecrated Religious. 

After a pope dies, the Catholic Church chooses its next leader through an ancient electoral process called the "papal conclave."

In practice, since at least 1276, the conclave gathers the church’s top bishops – called the College of Cardinals – from around the globe. Though there are more than 240 cardinals currently, only those under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the conclave and the number of cardinal electors is limited to 120.  

Nearly all prefects of Vatican offices lose their jobs when a pope dies, but a few stay on, including the foreign minister and the master of liturgical ceremonies, who play a key role in assembling the conclave.

The conclave takes place in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel and cardinals are kept in strict isolation to keep them far from any outside influence from the rest of the world. This isolation is so important in the process that even the name conclave comes from the Latin "con clavis," which means "with key," indicating how the cardinal electors are locked up while they deliberate over who will be the new pope.

There is also an emphasis on choosing a pope quickly to lessen the amount of time the church spends without a leader. The cardinals cast their first vote the day the conclave begins. They then cast votes at least twice every day after – in the morning and evening – until a pope is selected.

Fox News Digital's Pilar Arias contributed to this report.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told “FOX & Friends” on Monday that today is a “solemn day for Catholics around the world” following the death of Pope Francis. 

“I spoke to the vice president's team this morning, and they expressed how excited and grateful they were for the opportunity to have met with the pope just yesterday. And of course, we know the pope has gone to be with the Lord this morning,” Leavitt said. 

“And I spoke to the president about that as well and he has put out a statement to say, God bless the pope and all those who loved him. He touched millions of lives throughout his tenure as the head of the Catholic Church," Leavitt added. “And so it's a solemn day for Catholics around the world, and we are praying for all those who love the pope and believed in him.”

Dr. Marc Siegel, the senior medical analyst for Fox News, told “FOX & Friends” on Monday that Pope Francis may have suffered a “respiratory failure event” this morning prior to his death. 

"What I heard from inside sources... I heard that there was a respiratory failure event this morning, Rome time, in the morning. Five to seven AM, where he was unable to catch his breath. We don't know what caused that. It was likely due to another asthma-type event like he had in the hospital,” Siegel said. 

“There are other things that occur. There are other things that may have occurred. When you have been sedentary for over a month like that and then you go home and you try to get up and you try to engage in therapy, a lot of things can go wrong at that point,” Siegel also said, referencing Francis’ recent hospital stay during which he had battled pneumonia for weeks. 

Cardinal Timothy Dolan said Monday that “you couldn’t choreograph” the death of Pope Francis any better. 

“We could never choreograph our own birth or death can we? That is always in God’s hands. But if you could choreograph it, you couldn’t choreograph it any better than what happened,” the Archbishop of New York told reporters at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. 

“The last time we saw him, Easter Sunday, the last words, a blessed Easter, as he gave us his blessing. The day that we believe Jesus rose from the dead and shares that victory with us, in which we trust by divine mercy, Pope Francis now shares an abundant – you couldn’t have choreographed it better,” Dolan added. 

“And we thank him for that, in the way he lived and the way he died, he was a great teacher in which the pope is always called to be,” he also said. 

President Donald Trump reacted to the death of Pope Francis Monday by writing on Truth Social “Rest in Peace Pope Francis!  

“May God Bless him and all who loved him!” Trump added. 

Trump met the pope in 2017 at the Vatican, during the president's first term in office. Trump was joined by his wife Melania, his daughter Ivanka, her husband Jared Kushner and former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Trump shook the pope's hands and said, "Thank you so much."

Once the two shook hands, they were led into the pope's private study and were seated across from one another. Trump told the pope it was "a very great honor."The media was led out of the room, and the two talked for about 30 minutes.

Former President Joe Biden said Monday following the death of Pope Francis that “He was the People's Pope -- a light of faith, hope, and love.” 

“He was unlike any who came before him. Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him,” Biden wrote in a statement on X. 

“For decades, he served the most vulnerable across Argentina and his mission of serving the poor never ceased. As Pope, he was a loving pastor and challenging teacher who reached out to different faiths,” Biden continued. 

“He commanded us to fight for peace and protect our planet from a climate crisis. He advocated for the voiceless and powerless. He made all feel welcome and seen by the Church. He promoted equity and an end to poverty and suffering across the globe,” Biden also said. 

The funeral for Pope Francis will include many long-held traditions, but will also eschew some of the more intricate customs after the pope amended the Catholic Church's papal funeral rights.  

Francis died Monday at age 88, the Vatican announced.

While much of the tradition associated with papal funerals – which dates all the way back to ancient Rome – will continue, matters such as Francis' coffin structure, his death verification process, burial location, and how he will be viewed and referred to during the ceremony, will be different from how it has been in the past.

Francis, who had battled pneumonia for weeks before being released from the hospital and appearing on Easter Sunday, had faced health complications for many years and had to have half of one of his lungs removed as a young person. 

Francis' move to change these papal funeral traditions, some of which date all the way back to ancient Rome, stemmed from a desire to emphasize that the pope is "that of a shepherd and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful man of this world," according to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the head of papal liturgical ceremonies who reportedly worked with Francis to help make the revisions. The rewrite was also preceded by the unusual circumstances of Pope Benedict XVI's funeral, which deviated from traditional papal funerals on account of the fact he was a retired pope rather than a reigning one.

The new funeral rites were formally approved by Francis in 2023 and were later published in the church's liturgical guidelines in early 2024. Around the same time he was working on these revisions, the pope revealed during an interview with a Spanish-language broadcaster that he would not be buried in the grottoes of the Vatican like his predecessors, but rather at Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome. The new papal rights make it permissible for future popes to be buried outside the Vatican as well. 

Following the pope’s death there is a period of mourning that lasts nine days, known as the “novendiale,” which is kicked off by the pope’s funeral. After this, roughly two to three weeks following the pope’s funeral, a “conclave” is commenced inside the Sistine Chapel by the College of Cardinals to elect his successor. 

During the conclave, Cardinals eligible to vote are locked inside the famous chapel where they will take secret votes to determine who is next in line for the papacy. Up to four votes per day can take place, and the voting does not stop until a majority of Cardinals select who is next up. 

The conclave that elected Pope Francis in 2013 took roughly 24-hours and five ballots to come to a decision. His predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, was elected after just four ballots. However, while the process recently has been quite rapid, it can run much longer. 

The last conclave to run over a month was in the 18th century. The longest conclave ever, during the 13th century lasted almost three years before Pope Gregory X was selected. 

Fox News' Alec Schemmel contributed reporting.

Pope Francis impacted the Catholic Church in multiple ways during his 12 years serving in the role.

Francis, who was elected to the papacy on March 13, 2013, was the first Jesuit to become pope.

Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis canonized nearly 1,000 people. This total, however, includes the "Martyrs of Otranto," a group of 813 people who were killed on Aug. 14, 1480, in Otranto, Italy.

In August 2018, Pope Francis issued a letter revising the Catechism of the Catholic Church's teaching on the death penalty.

"Pope Francis continued the recent tradition of previous popes, including from St. John Paul II, by escalating Catholic opposition to modern-day use of the death penalty," Charles Camosy, professor of bioethics at the Creighton University School of Medicine, had told Fox News Digital. 

The word "Catholic" translates to "universal," and Pope Francis' papacy also exemplified this. Francis visited places no previous pontiff had ever visited and appointed cardinals from non-traditional locations. 

The next Pope could, and some analysts say should, come from Africa. Christianity is booming here. More people are becoming Catholics on the continent than anywhere else in the world, and millions of Africans proudly stay true to their faith despite persecution and death.

"As in previous years, increases (in the number of Catholics) were registered above all in Africa," the Vatican said in October 2024, stating that 7,271,000 Africans joined the faith last year.

Fox News Digital understands there are three leading African papabile – "pope-able" candidates - Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, 65, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, 76, from Ghana, and Guinea’s Cardinal Robert Sarah, who is viewed as an outsider due his being 80-years-old.

"Is it time? Certainly, it is an appropriate time for the leader of the Catholic Church to come from Africa for reasons that would capture the world’s imagination," Greg Tobin, author of the novels "Conclave" and "Council," and the biography of "Pope John XXIII, the Good Pope," told Fox News Digital. 

He added, "The Church has been growing at an amazingly rapid rate over the past few decades in the face of government opposition in many African nations, overt persecution of Christians and Catholics in many of the same nations, and violent opposition. Further, the leaders who have been appointed bishops and raised up as cardinals are generally highly educated, often in the West."

Bells tolled Monday in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican to mark Pope Francis' death.

Crowds can be seen gathering at the Vatican following the announcement earlier this morning that Francis passed away at the age of 88.

King Charles III said Monday that “My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis” and “Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry.” 

“His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others,” Charles added in a statement.  

“His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world,” he continued. “Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many.” 

“The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month,” Charles also said. “We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ.” 

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said after the death of Pope Francis on Monday that the pontiff's "memory and example of his compassion will long endure."

"Australian Catholics and faithful around the world give thanks for the life of their Holy Father, Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome," Albanese said in a statement. "Today, the prayers of more than a billion people - from all nations and every walk of life - go with Pope Francis to his rest."

"Pope Francis' compassion embraced all humanity," he continued. "He urged us to remember all we hold in common and asked the world to hear the 'cry of the earth', our common home. He invited world leaders to join him and: 'emerge from the dark night of wars and environmental devastation in order to turn our common future into the dawn of a new and radiant day.'"

Albanese said Francis, the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, was "close to the people of Australia," adding that for Australian Catholics, he "was a devoted champion and loving father."

"Pope Francis lived out his faith and vocation in word and deed. In his modest way of life, and at his weekly audiences, he demonstrated his commitment to peace, equality and inclusion," Albanese said. "Pope Francis' love for humanity was powerful and profound. The memory and example of his compassion will long endure."

The prime minister said as people around the world mourn Francis' death, "we celebrate the gift of his life and presence among us and we hold on to the resonant truth of Pope Francis' final Easter homily."

"The light quietly shines forth, even though we are in darkness; the promise of new life and a world finally set free awaits us; and a new beginning, however impossible it might seem, can take us by surprise, for Christ has triumphed over death," Francis had said.

"May God welcome Pope Francis to eternal life," Albanese concluded.

Pope Francis, then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Begoglio, was elected in March 2013 to succeed Pope Benedict XVI, becoming the first non-European pope in over 1,000 years.

He moved to reform the Catholic Church in multiple ways, including overhauling the Vatican Bank and tackling the coverup of sexual abuse. He also presented a softened approach to issues like divorced and remarried Catholics, and homosexuality.

As Pope Francis, he oversaw multiple synods on hot button issues, declared a year of mercy and produced a number of Vatican documents. He also attempted to harden the Church’s opposition to the death penalty, calling it “inadmissible.”

In 2015, he traveled to the United States, visiting Washington D.C., New York and Philadelphia.

He has generally been seen as more progressive than his predecessors, although he has not shifted Church teaching on issues like abortion and women priests as some liberals would have hoped. But he has also clashed with conservatives on issues including the Tridentine Mass, the acceptance of divorced and remarried Catholics for Holy Communion and his criticism of capitalism.

Fox News' Adam Shaw and Cameron Cawthorne contributed to this report.

Vice President JD Vance, who had just met with Pope Francis on Sunday, issued a post on X following the pontiff's passing.

"I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him," Vance noted.

"I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul."

Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said after the death of Pope Francis on Monday that "a great man and a great pastor have left us."

"Pope Francis has returned to the house of the Father," Meloni said on X. "This news saddens us deeply, because a great man and a great pastor have left us."

"I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship, his advice and his teachings, which never failed even in moments of trial and suffering," she continued. "In the meditations of the Via Crucis, he reminded us of the power of the gift, which makes everything flourish again and is capable of reconciling what in the eyes of man is irreconcilable. And he asked the world, once again, for the courage to change direction, to follow a path that 'does not destroy, but cultivates, repairs, protects.'"

Meloni added: "We will walk in this direction, to seek the path of peace, pursue the common good and build a more just and equitable society. His teaching and his legacy will not be lost. We greet the Holy Father with hearts full of sadness, but we know that he is now in the peace of the Lord."

Israeli President Isaac Herzog issued a post on X regarding the death of Pope Francis.

"I send my deepest condolences to the Christian world and especially the Christian communities in Israel - the Holy Land - on the loss of their great spiritual father, His Holiness Pope Francis. A man of deep faith and boundless compassion, he dedicated his life to uplifting the poor and calling for peace in a troubled world. He rightly saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue as a path toward greater understanding and mutual respect," Herzog declared in the tweet.

"I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered. May his memory continue to inspire acts of kindness, unity, and hope."

Pope Francis died Monday morning at the age of 88, according to Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo.

"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," Farrell announced.

"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," the announcement continued.

Farrell added: "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."