Death of the Pope: First photos of the deceased have appeared.

Pope Francis has died

Pope Francis passed away on April 21 at the age of 89. The cause of his death was a stroke and heart failure. The head of the Catholic Church, who served for 12 years, suffered from various illnesses. Recently, he had been ill with bilateral pneumonia. Vatican Media published the first photographs of the Pope after his death.

The body of Pope Francis is located in the Casa Santa Marta, which is adjacent to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

From 2013 to 2025, Pope Francis did not use the papal apartments but lived in a regular room at the Santa Marta hotel.

After the death of the Pope, cardinals from around the world gather in the Sistine Chapel for a conclave - a secret vote that will determine the new Pope. Only cardinals under the age of 80 participate in the voting. Usually, a new Pope is one of the cardinals, but technically any Catholic can be chosen.

According to the updated version of the document 'Order of the Funeral of the Roman Pontiff' (Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis), the funeral of the Pope will be held according to a simplified procedure. This decision was made by the Pope himself in November 2024.

The funeral of Pope Francis is likely to take place on Saturday, April 26.

News Analysis:

Pope Francis has died after serving for 12 years as the head of the Catholic Church. This event is significant for the entire world and will impact the Catholic community. The death of the Pope has initiated the process of selecting a new leader through a conclave. This secret voting will determine the next Pope.

It is also important to note that Pope Francis's funeral will be conducted according to simplified procedures, which may reflect his desire for a modest and simple farewell. This aligns with his principles of simplicity and service to people.