It still feels a bit surreal, doesn't it? One minute we were watching the usual Vatican updates, and the next, the world was mourning. For a guy who seemed to have nine lives, surviving everything from missing lung parts to intense intestinal surgeries, the end came quickly. If you’re wondering exactly what happened to Pope Francis, you aren't alone.
The timeline is actually pretty heavy.
On April 21, 2025—which was Easter Monday—the Vatican dropped the news that shook about 1.4 billion Catholics. Pope Francis died at 88. He didn’t pass away in a cold hospital room, though. He was at home. Well, "home" for him was the Domus Sanctae Marthae, that modest guesthouse he chose over the fancy Apostolic Palace years ago.
The health crisis that wouldn't quit
Honestly, the writing was on the wall for a few months. It started back in February 2025. Francis was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital for what the Vatican first called "bronchitis." But it wasn't just a cough. It spiraled into bilateral pneumonia.
He spent 38 days in the hospital. That’s a long time for anyone, let alone an 88-year-old with one functioning lung.
Even though he made it back to the Vatican by late March, he looked frail. Really frail. He managed to do a quick tour in the popemobile on Easter Sunday, giving a final wave to the crowds. It was his last public appearance. The very next morning, he suffered a massive stroke followed by heart failure.
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The official time of death was 7:35 a.m.
The transition to Pope Leo XIV
When a pope dies, the machinery of the Church moves fast. By May 2025, the cardinals were locked in the Sistine Chapel. They didn't take long to decide. On May 8, they elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, an American-born prelate who had spent years in Peru.
He took the name Pope Leo XIV.
It was a huge deal. He became the second pope in a row from the Americas. Since then, Leo has been busy trying to balance Francis’s legacy of "mercy" with the administrative cleanup the Vatican always seems to need. Just this month, in January 2026, Leo XIV inaugurated a "Special Year of St. Francis" to mark the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death. It’s kinda poetic when you think about it—honoring the man his predecessor named himself after.
Why the resignation rumors were wrong
For years, everyone thought Francis would pull a "Benedict" and just quit. He even admitted he had a resignation letter signed and ready in a drawer somewhere, just in case he became "incapacitated."
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But he never used it.
He always said the papacy should be ad vitam (for life) unless things got truly impossible. Even when he was using a wheelchair for that stubborn knee pain, he kept pushing. He’d say, "You govern with the head, not the legs." He stayed in the chair until the stroke took the choice away.
What most people get wrong about his final wishes
People expected a massive, gold-plated funeral. Francis, being Francis, hated that idea. He left specific instructions in his will to be buried in a "simple, unadorned tomb."
He also broke a huge tradition.
Instead of being buried in the crypts under St. Peter’s Basilica with most of the other popes, he chose the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. He used to go there before and after every single international trip to pray before the icon of the Virgin Mary. That’s where he is now, tucked away in a side aisle between the Pauline and Sforza chapels.
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What this means for you now
If you're following the Vatican today, the vibe has shifted. Leo XIV is proving to be a bit more of a "consultant" leader. He recently brought back the tradition of frequent meetings with the entire College of Cardinals—something Francis didn't do much.
Here is what to watch for in 2026:
- The Franciscan Jubilee: From now until January 2027, you can actually get a plenary indulgence by visiting Franciscan sites.
- The Body of St. Francis: For the first time ever, the body of St. Francis of Assisi is expected to be put on public display in Assisi later this year.
- Policy Shifts: Watch Leo XIV on the "unarmed peace" front. He’s been very vocal this month about the tragedy of the Swiss Crans-Montana fire and global conflicts, signaling a papacy focused heavily on diplomacy.
If you want to pay your respects, you don't need a ticket to a high-profile event anymore. You can just walk into Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. His tomb is exactly what he wanted: simple, quiet, and away from the noise.
Actionable Insight: If you are planning a trip to Rome this year, prioritize the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore over the St. Peter’s crypts if you want to see Francis's final resting place. Also, check the local Franciscan calendar for the "Year of St. Francis" events; many cathedrals are hosting unique exhibits that won't happen again for decades.