World leaders and mourners of the Catholic faith gather in Vatican City for Pope Francis' funeral

Pope Francis in an undated picture as a teenager in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Bergoglio family photo via AP)

Pope Francis was born “Jorge Mario Bergoglio” in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Dec. 17, 1936. 

The eldest of five children, his parents were Italian immigrants with his father working as a bookkeeper for the Buenos Aires branch of the Italian State Railways while his mother was a homemaker. 

In Pope Francis’ book, "The Name of God is Mercy,” he emphasized that he comes from a simple family, with parents who taught him the values of hard work, humility and faith. 

He spoke lovingly about his grandmother Rosa, who had a strong influence on his faith and wrote about how he enjoyed playing soccer, dancing the tango and hanging out with friends. 

A turning point in his life came at aged 17 when he randomly went to confession at the Basilica of San José de Flores.

He said he felt profoundly touched by God's mercy, an experience he later described as "God was waiting for me there." 

That encounter shaped his calling to the priesthood and became the foundation of his belief that faith must begin with mercy before judgment. 

Pope Francis graduated as a chemical technician and then a few years later he became seriously ill and had part of one lung removed. He said the experience deepened his spirituality and taught him compassion, patience and a sense of human fragility. 

He entered the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1958 and studied humanities in Chile before returning to Argentina in 1963 to complete a graduate degree in philosophy. 

He then taught literature and psychology for three years before going on to earn a degree in theology.

On Dec. 13, 1969, he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano.

By Michael Dorgan

Vatican Pool/Getty Images

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."

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Alex Nitzberg. 

Photo by TOMAS CUESTA/AFP via Getty Images

Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88, was one of five children born to Italian immigrants who fled the Mussolini regime in 1929 and immigrated to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The pope was the oldest of his siblings and is survived by only one sister still alive, María Elena, 76, who was the youngest daughter and who still lives in Argentina.

TRUMP WILL ATTEND POPE FRANCIS' FUNERAL IN ROME DESPITE CONTENTIOUS PAST: 'LOOK FORWARD TO BEING THERE!' 

A report by HOLA said the pair remained close even after her brother, who’s birth name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, became pope in 2013 and he regularly called her from Rome.

It is unclear if Pope Francis’ sister had any children.

Though reports suggested Francis also had at least two “nephews” that are children of his cousins who he was also close with.

It remains unclear how many cousins the pope had and how many are still alive. 

Vatican Media via AP

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."

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Danielle Wallace.

Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

One of the hallmarks of Pope Francis’ papacy was his emphasis on elevating clerics from the “peripheries” of the church and world to the highest ranks of leadership. Over his twelve years as pope, Francis appointed 163 cardinals from 76 countries, 25 of which had never had a cardinal before. Though Francis was generally considered one of the more liberal popes, his cardinal appointments emphasized geographic diversity above ideology.

Francis appointed six cardinals in the United States, most of whom were more liberal in their bent. The U.S. cardinals appointed by Francis were Blase Cupich of Chicago, Kevin Farrell who leads the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, Joseph Tobin of Newark, Wilton Gregory who recently retired after leading the Archdiocese of Washington, Robert McElroy of Washington and Robert Prevost who leads the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

JONATHAN MORRIS PREVIEWS CONCLAVE TO CHOOSE NEW POPE

The result of Francis’ appointments is that the upcoming conclave to elect the new pope will be the most diverse papal election in the history of the Catholic Church. For the first time, a majority of cardinal electors will come from outside of Europe. According to a breakdown by the Catholic news outlet “The Pillar,” 18% of the voting cardinals in the upcoming conclave will come from Latin America, 16%  from Asia and the Pacific, 14%  from Africa, and 9% from North America.

Pope Francis and President Donald Trump shared a relationship marked by both public disagreements and diplomatic engagement over the last decade.

Most recently, the pontiff chastised Trump's mass deportation plan as a "disgrace" on Italian television before congratulating him on his historic electoral victory.

"Inspired by your nation's ideals of being a land of opportunity and welcome for all, it is my hope that under your leadership, the American people will prosper and always strive to build a more just society, where there is no room for hatred, discrimination or exclusion," Pope Francis wrote in a message to Trump.

President Trump will attend the Pontiff's funeral.

Pope Francis prays at Israel's separation barrier on his way to a Mass in Manger Square next to the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Sunday, May 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Pope Francis memorable moments Pope Franics made history in 2013 when he became the first pope from Latin America and the first Jesuit pope.

He chose the name "Francis" to honor St. Francis of Assisi, reflecting his dedication to the poor and to peace. 

That year he made severable notable appearances. 

In July, he famously signaled a more welcoming stance toward LGBT community when it comes to the sexual orientation of priests. 

“We shouldn’t marginalize people for this. They must be integrated into society,” the pontiff said in an exchange with reporters.

“If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” the pope asked. 

He also denounced what he described as the “globalization of indifference” when it came to migrants and went to tiny Sicilian island of Lampedusa to welcome newly arrived African migrants.

Throughout his papacy, the pope urged countries to welcome migrants and integrate them into society. 

He also decried the world financial system that excludes the poor. 

In May 2014 he prayed at wall separating Israel from the West Bank town of Bethlehem, in a show of support for the Palestinian cause. The following month he hosted Israeli and Palestinian presidents for peace prayers in the Vatican gardens. 

In 2015 the pope released his encyclical “Laudato Si” calling on the world to take urgent action against climate change, urging care for “our common home.” 

He also made it easier for divorced Catholics to remarry by overhauling the annulment process. 

In 2016 he said that then presidential candidate Donald Trump was “not a Christian” for wanting to build a border wall.

Pope Francis repeatedly washed the feet of inmates, Muslims, women, and people of other faiths on Holy Thursday — breaking tradition and emphasizing humility and service.

He also visited conflict zones throughout his papacy and in 2020 he expressed support for same-sex civil unions, saying LGBTQ people "have a right to a family.”

Pope Francis made environmental advocacy a central focus of his papacy, particularly climate change and the protection of the Amazon rainforest. In his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si', Francis called for an “ecological conversion,” urging world leaders to address the "global environmental deterioration," as a moral and spiritual obligation.

 "Some strategies for lowering pollutant gas emissions call for the internationalization of environmental costs, which would risk imposing on countries with fewer resources burdensome commitments to reducing emissions comparable to those of the more industrialized countries," Pope Francis wrote in his 180-page encyclical. "Imposing such measures penalizes those countries most in need of development. A further injustice is perpetrated under the guise of protecting the environment. Here also, the poor end up paying the price." 

He added, "Furthermore, since the effects of climate change will be felt for a long time to come, even if stringent measures are taken now, some countries with scarce resources will require assistance in adapting to the effects already being produced, which affect their economies."

In 2019, Francis convened the Synod for the Amazon, bringing together bishops, scientists, and Indigenous leaders to discuss the region's ecological concerns. 

In an updated document in October 2023, Pope Francis wrote, "The world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point," the pope wrote in the 12-page "Laudate Deum," which means "Praise God" in Latin. 

"If we consider that emissions per individual in the United States are about two times greater than those of individuals living in China, and about seven times greater than the average of the poorest countries, we can state that a broad change in the irresponsible lifestyle connected with the Western model would have a significant long-term impact," he wrote. 

Fox News Digital's Danielle Wallace contributed.

AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File

Though Pope Francis and his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI, shared a unique friendship, the two differed significantly in the areas they chose to emphasize as pope. 

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In general, many Catholics came to see the papacies of the last three popes, John Paul II, Benedict and Francis as characterized by the charisms of theologian, philosopher and pastor, respectively. While Benedict tended to place a heavy emphasis on strengthening the Catholic Church’s teachings in response to growing global secularization, Francis tended towards placing a heavy emphasis on God’s loving nature, while reaching out to the marginalized and caring for the environment.

It should be noted that neither men changed any of the fundamental tenets of the church’s teachings but rather chose to focus their attention and leadership on different aspects of the church’s age-old message.

Andrew Medichini/AP

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.’" 

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Jeffrey Clark.

REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

The Vatican said the entombment of Pope Francis' coffin began around 1:00 p.m. Rome time (7:00 a.m. EST) at Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary Major). They said the rite was carried out according to the prescriptions of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis and was presided over by the Cardinal Camerlengo.

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FIRST ON FOX: 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."

McFarland is director of worldview for Charis Bible College in Woodland Park, Colorado, and co-hosts the "Truth and Liberty" TV broadcast. He is heard live daily on 200-plus stations of the American Family Radio Network. 

Here are thoughts from other faith leaders as well. 

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Maureen Mackey and Ashley Papa.

REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

The Vatican said that 250,000 people attended Pope Francis' funeral ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica, including leaders from across the globe.

In the funeral homily, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, described the late pontiff as "a pope among the people," making the number of attendees at his funeral symbolic of his impact on others.

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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."

DeAnda holds a Ph.D. in theology from Loyola University in Chicago, a master's in theology from the Oblate School of Theology and a master's in theology from St. Mary's University in Texas. She is an expert in Latin American studies and on Mary in Latin America.

"He did not know how much longer he would live, and since he was chosen pope at an older age, he definitely did not expect to have such a long papacy," DeAnda said. "He wanted to have his wishes available in case God called him home."

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

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Gabriele Regalbuto.

Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images

While Pope Francis did not change any of the fundamental aspects of the Catholic Church, he did in many ways reshape the face of the church, placing a heavier emphasis on reaching out to the peripheries and to the poor and marginalized.

Pope Francis was known and beloved for his humble demeanor as well as his constant message of hope and mercy.

He often broke with tradition , such as his decision to live at the Domus Sanctae Marthae apartment building in the Vatican rather than the Apostolic Palace, where popes have typically resided.

FOX NEWS TO AIR SPECIAL LIVE COVERAGE OF POPE FRANCIS' FUNERAL ON SATURDAY

Throughout his papacy, Francis insisted that priests be shepherds to their flocks above all else, urging them to “smell of sheep.” Francis was also known as an advocate for migrants and refugees and for good “stewardship” of the environment. He was not afraid of also making controversial moves such as welcoming a group of transgenders to the Vatican and calling for the inclusion of gay individuals in the church, while still maintaining the church’s teaching that practicing homosexuality is a contrary God’s design.

Francis also placed great emphasis on the importance and fundamental value of children and families amid a society increasingly viewing children and marriage as a burden.

Vatican Media

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an organization that represents families of hostages being held by Hamas, sent condolences to the "millions around the world who mourn the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis."

"His strong commitment to everything human was also clearly demonstrated in his solidarity with those innocent people who were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on [Oct. 7, 2023] and have been held in captivity ever since. We will always cherish his openness and moral support during our ordeal," the organization wrote in a press release.

The organization also expressed gratitude for Catholic communities who have supported them since their loved ones were taken hostage. Additionally, the organization said that it hopes the Catholic Church will "continue to openly and vigorously support the international effort to bring them home as soon as possible."

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File

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.

"Pope Francis enjoyed broad support among American Catholics – certainly exceeding the popularity of any elected officials in the U.S.," veteran political scientist Wayne Lesperance, the president of New England College, told Fox News.

U.S. Catholics also generally viewed Francis more positively than his immediate predecessor in the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI. 

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Paul Steinhauser.

REUTERS/Yara Nardi

Pope Francis' funeral Mass has ended, and the pontiff will be laid to rest at Santa Maria Maggiore. He requested to be buried there in his final will and testament.

"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 pope wrote.

Pope Francis will be the first pope in more than a century to not be buried beneath St Peter’s Basilica. He requested his tomb be "simple, without particular decorum and with the only inscription: Franciscus."

Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

One of the most controversial aspects of Pope Francis’ legacy as the leader of the Catholic Church is his decision to restrict an older form of the Catholic liturgy known as the Traditional Latin Mass.

Francis explained that he decided to restrict the Latin Mass because he was concerned its use was leading to division in the Church. Francis said he felt the more ancient mass was "being used in an ideological way" in reaction to modernity, including the more modern Vatican II mass.

The mass consists of the "Liturgy of the Word" and "Liturgy of the Eucharist," the latter of which is considered the most sacred and highest form of worship by Catholics. 

The Latin Mass, which was formalized by Pope St. Pius V in 1570 and continues to be practiced by some Catholics today, has several key differences from the more common Vatican II mass, which was instituted in 1969. These differences include the entirety of the mass being said in Latin and the priest facing "ad orientem" ("to the east") rather than facing the congregation.

During his 12-year pontificate, Francis took several actions to limit the use of the Latin Mass throughout the world. The result was that the Latin Mass was relegated to a very limited number of churches, with it often only being offered by priests belonging to specific orders expressly devoted to it.

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Peter Pinedo.

Vatican and Ukraine Ambassador to Holy See

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met for the first time since their Oval Office clash in February.

The New York Times reported that the White House did not give details on when the two leaders met, but a spokesperson said their discussion was “very productive.”

Zelenskyy later tweeted that it was a "good meeting" and that he is hoping for a "reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out."

Trump has recently pushed both Russia and Ukraine to reach a deal and end the war. On Thursday, Trump called out Russian President Vladimir Putin in a Truth Social post and demanded that strikes on Ukraine stop immediately. He also slammed Zelenskyy in a Truth Social post on Wednesday after the Ukrainian leader said his country would not recognize Russian control of Crimea. Trump called Zelenskyy’s remark “inflammatory” and said it was “very harmful” to peace efforts.

REUTERS/Yara Nardi

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, delivered the funeral homily for Pope Francis. He spoke about Pope Francis' legacy and how the late pontiff "made his mark on the Church."

"The decision to take the name Francis immediately appeared to indicate the pastoral plan and style on which he wanted to base his pontificate, seeking inspiration from the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi."

Re said that Pope Francis was "a pope among the people" who was "rich in human warmth and deeply sensitive to today’s challenges."

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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. 

Pope Francis, who was hospitalized in February due to complications stemming from bronchitis and pneumonia, died Monday at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. 

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Diana Stancy.

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Pope Francis, 88, died on Easter Monday of a stroke and cardiac arrest, according to an announcement from the Vatican.

Fox News’ Alex Hogan confirmed in an on-air report that the Pope had a stroke in the early morning of April 21, went into a coma and then had a heart attack.

The Pope’s death follows years of ongoing health concerns, including a recent hospitalization for double pneumonia.

The official death announcement was made at the Pope’s residence in the Chapel of St. Martha on Monday.

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Angelica Stabile.

Osservatore Romano via AP

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.

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Peter Pinedo and Pilar Arias. 

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Over the course of his 12 years as pontiff, Pope Francis’ papacy has been both highly regarded as influential and scrutinized as modernized and anti-traditional.

Leaving behind a legacy of expansion, Pope Francis ministered to shape the Catholic Church’s future and scale its reach beyond areas of focus in both the U.S. and Europe.

"If you think about how he has approached appointing cardinals," Tim Gabrielli, associate professor and Gudorf chair in Catholic intellectual traditions at the University of Dayton in Ohio, told Fox News Digital. "He's been very intentional about that."

Pope Francis created cardinals from 24 nations that had never had one before.

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Gabriele Regalbuto.

Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images

The Vatican and White House have for decades kept a close relationship, with various popes and presidents meeting in the nation’s capital and in Vatican City across the years. 

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, following years of health issues, including chronic lung disease. Francis was the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 2013 until his death, and had met with three U.S. presidents across his tenure. 

Francis’ last high-profile meeting with a U.S. leader was held just hours before his death, when Vice President JD Vance traveled to Italy for the Easter holiday and met with the pope on the most holy day for Christians. 

"I know you’ve not been feeling great, but it’s good see you in better health," Vance told the pontiff Sunday. 

"I pray for you every day," Vance said. "God bless you."

Following Francis’ death, Fox News Digital took a look back on high-profile meetings and friendships the Vatican and White House have forged across the years. 

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Emma Colton.

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There have been 266 papal leaders of the Catholic Church since Jesus Christ’s death in the AD 30s through Pope Francis – Jorge Mario Bergoglio – who died on Easter Monday at 88.

The most prominent pope is considered to be St. Peter, the first holder of the title.

Christ had appointed him the inaugural Bishop of Rome, and the papal church – St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City – is named in his honor.

St. Peter’s writings to persecuted people in the Asia Minor region are also chronicled in the New Testament’s epistles.

Peter reportedly died around 64 and was succeeded by Pope Linus.

In the present day, there is wide agreement across the Catholic world that one of the most recent popes, John Paul II, deserves to be in consideration as the most influential pontiff.

John Paul II was also the first non-Italian pope since Pope Adrian in the 1500s. Born Karol Wojtyla in Poland, John Paul’s lengthy three decades in the Vatican were marked with very prominent situations for the Catholic Church.

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Charles Creitz.

Khalil Hamra/AP

Pope Francis’ last words before his death on Monday were an expression of thanks to his personal nurse and caregiver, Massimiliano Strappetti, the Vatican revealed Tuesday while describing the 88-year-old pontiff’s final hours.

Francis hesitated to surprise a throng of 50,000 faithful who amassed in St. Peter’s Square with a ride in the popemobile following his Easter blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican News reported, with the pontiff asking Strappetti, "Do you think I can manage it?" 

Once Francis was reassured, he took his tour of the square, stopping to embrace people, especially children, on his route.

Among Francis’ last words was a heartfelt message to Strappetti.

"Thank you for bringing me back to the Square," Francis, widely known as "the People’s Pope," told his personal health care assistant, Vatican News reported.

Francis rested the rest of Sunday afternoon and had a quiet dinner, according to the official Vatican news agency.

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News'  Stephen Sorace.

Gary Gershoff/Getty Images

"The View" co-host Joy Behar reacted to Pope Francis' death on Tuesday and lamented that the late Pontiff could be replaced by some "conservative guy." 

"I wonder because there might be a backlash against how good he was and how much humility he had compared to some of the leaders in this world right now, so there might be a backlash to it, and they’ll get some conservative guy in there who, you know, is anti-gay and everything else," Behar said.

Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, died Monday morning, Vatican camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced. The Pope's funeral is set for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square.

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Hanna Panreck.

AP

Following the Vatican's announcement of Pope Francis’ death on April 21, doctors are speaking about the health conditions he faced in recent months.

The Catholic faith leader, who died at the age of 88, had been under medical care for bilateral pneumonia — a diagnosis that was confirmed via laboratory tests and chest X-rays — since February.

"The polymicrobial infection, which arose on a picture of bronchiectasis and asmatiform bronchitis, and which required the use of antibiotic cortisone therapy, makes the therapeutic treatment more complex," the Vatican said in a statement at the time.

"The chest CT scan that the Holy Father underwent this afternoon … demonstrated the onset of bilateral pneumonia that required further pharmacological therapy."

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Melissa Rudy and Angelica Stabile.

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Pope Francis was elected to the papacy on March 13, 2013, at the age of 76. He passed away at the age of 88 on Monday, April 21.

Born in Argentina as Jorge Bergoglio, Pope Francis joined the Society of Jesus at the age of 21. He was ordained a priest days before his 33rd birthday and was consecrated as an auxiliary bishop of his hometown of Buenos Aires in 1992. 

In 1998, he was named the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, serving in that role until his election to the papacy in 2013. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals in 2001 by Pope John Paul II, whom he would later canonize. 

Here are five ways the pope impacted the Catholic Church.

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Christine Rousselle.

Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

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. 

Here is a look at some of the most likely forerunners to serve as the 267th pope, according to public reporting.

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Caitlin McFall.

Photo by Debajyoti Chakraborty/NurPhoto via Getty Images

During his twelve-year pontificate, Pope Francis canonized some of the most beloved figures of the modern Catholic Church, including Pope St. John Paul II in 2014, St. Teresa of Calcutta in 2016 and Francisco and Jacinta Marto of Fatima in 2017.

Most significant to the United States was the canonization of St. Junipero Serra whom Francis canonized on Sept. 23, 2015, during his historic visit to Washington, D.C. Serra was an 18th-century Franciscan priest whose missionary work, which often involved walking hundreds of miles on foot, was crucial to the founding of California. Serra is one of two figures who represent the state of California in the Capitol's statuary hall in D.C.

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In total, Francis canonized 942 saints during his time as pope. However, 813 of those – known as the “martyrs of Otranto” – were canonized as a group.

Francis also advanced the canonization cause of Blessed Carlo Acutis, an Italian boy devoted to the Eucharist who died at the age of 15 and is expected to become the first millennial saint. Acutis was set to be canonized Saturday, April 26, which is now the day of Francis’ funeral. Acutis’ canonization has been postponed until there is a new pope.  

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Vice President JD Vance met Pope Francis on Easter Sunday, just hours before the pontiff's death -- making him one of the last visitors to see him. 

Prior to meeting with the pontiff, Vance and his family were given a private tour of the Sistine Chapel. 

The brief encounter between the two leaders was at the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta residence, where Pope Francis, 88, was recovering from a severe bout of pneumonia and in a wheelchair.  

The vice president, a convert to Roman Catholicism since 2019, exchanged Easter greetings with the pope and received gifts for his children, including chocolate Easter eggs and rosaries.

The Vatican said in a statement that there was also "an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions, and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners." 

"Finally, hope was expressed for serene collaboration between the State and the Catholic Church in the United States, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged," the statement read.

"In the Name of the Holy Trinity. Amen.

"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.

"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.

"I want my last earthly journey to end in this ancient sanctuary Mariano where I went for prayer at the beginning and end of each Apostolic Journey to confidently entrust my intentions to the Immaculate Mother and thank Her for the docile and maternal care.

"I ask that my tomb be prepared in the hole of the aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica as Indicated in the attached annex.

"The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decorum and with the only inscription: Franciscus.

"The expenses for the preparation of my burial will be covered with the sum of the benefactor who I have arranged, to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and of which I have provided to give appropriate instructions to Mons. Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Chapter Liberian.

"May the Lord give the well-deserved reward to those who have loved me and will continue to pray for me. The suffering that was made in the last part of my life I offered to the Lord for peace in the world and brotherhood among peoples."

A Swiss guard (R) stands with empty seats in the background at St Peter's Square ahead of late Pope Francis' funeral in the Vatican on April 26, 2025. (ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images

Pope Francis’ funeral will be held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. local Rome time (4:00 a.m. ET) and more than 200,000 people are expected to attend the deceased Vicar of Christ’s services.

Thousands of mourners have taken to the Vatican this week to pay their final respects to Pope Francis following his death on Monday.

The funeral Mass will be held on the parvis of St. Peter’s Basilica, and His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the Catholic rites and blessings.

Gustavo Garello/AP

There have been 266 papal leaders of the Catholic Church since Jesus Christ’s death in the AD 30s through Pope Francis – Jorge Mario Bergoglio – who died on Easter Monday at 88.

The most prominent pope is considered to be St. Peter, the first holder of the title.

Christ had appointed him the inaugural Bishop of Rome, and the papal church – St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City – is named in his honor.

This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Charles Creitz.