Pope's body to be moved to St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday, countries declare days of mourning

Pope Francis will be remembered as a pontiff who championed historically progressive views, but also for his Argentinian passport — which made him the first ever Latin American to become Pope, Euronews' Estelle Nilsson-Julien reports.

Although the late pontiff vowed to return to his home country after he left Argentina for the Vatican in 2013, it was a trip which he never managed to complete. 

Pope Francis, born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, served as archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998, before becoming head of the Argentine Episcocal Conference — the top order of bishops — in 2005. 

Argentina’s President Javier Milei took to X to express his condolences for Pope Francis, as his government declared a week-long mourning period. 

“Despite differences that now seem minor, having had the chance to know him in his kindness and wisdom was a true honor for me”, he wrote. 

During his 2023 presidential campaign trail, Milei — an economist who labels himself an anarcho-capitalist — did not mince his words, insulting Pope Francis and branding him an “imbecile who defends social justice.” 

Milei later apologised and was received by the Pope at the Vatican two months after his election.

In neighbouring Brazil, which is the world’s largest Catholic country, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also declared seven-days of mourning in response to Pope Francis’ death.

“Pope Francis practised and preached in his daily life the love, tolerance and solidarity which are the basis of Christian teachings,” he said. Lula went on to praise the pontiff’s care for addressing climate change, as well as his criticism of economic models which promote injustice.

No-one knows how long the cardinals will take to reach their decision on a successor to pope Francis, but the past can hold some clues. Here Euronews looks at the longest and shortest conclaves in history.

Conclaves through time - the long and short

Conclaves can last as little as a day but they have been known to go on for years too: here are a few of the historical outliers. #EuropeNews…

In addition to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reaction, reported below earlier, numerous Spanish ministers and political authorities are reacting to the loss, Euronews' Roberto Macedonio Vega reports from Madrid. The Vice-President of the Government, María Jesús Montero, said that ‘history will remember him as a good and just man who always stood by the weakest and most needy. His example is more necessary today than ever.

The leader of the opposition, Alberto Núñez Feijóo (PP) has described him as "the Pope who spoke Spanish and almost went on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

"He has served the world and the Church with his convictions and thoughts until the last moment".

For his part, Santiago Abascal, leader of VOX, wrote on social media: "We join the prayers of millions of Catholics for the soul of Pope Francis. May he rest in peace."

Meanwhile the Portuguese government will declare three days of national mourning to coincide with Pope Francis' funeral ceremonie, Euronews' Joana Mourão Carvalho reports from Madrid. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, in a statement in which he praised the legacy of the head of the Catholic Church.

The Pope's body is expected to be transferred to Saint Peter's Basilica on Wednesday, according to the Vatican's spokesperson Matteo Bruni, Estelle Nilsson-Julien reports. This would allow people to pay their respects. Cardinals are expected to take a formal decision on Tuesday.

As pilgrims and mourners gather outside the basilica of St Peter's in Rome's Vatican City, Euronews is carrying a live view of the unfolding scene. Catch it here...

“Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!” Donald Trump said on Truth Social today.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that there were no immediate plans for the US president to attend the pope’s funeral.

“Doesn’t mean it’s not happening, I just don’t have anything to share,” Leavitt said, adding: “We’re praying for the millions of Christians around the world who love the pope and admired him this morning.”

Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)

Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!…

For a deeper dive on those contenders for the job of bishop of Rome, here's Euronews' deeper dive into the story. The College of Cardinals will gather to elect the church's next head. The rules, as of 22 January 2025, state there are 138 electors out of 252 cardinals. Only those under the age of 80 may take part in the secret ballot.

Four rounds of voting take place daily until one cardinal receives a two-thirds majority of the vote. The process typically lasts 15 to 20 days.

Who are the possible contenders to replace Pope Francis?

Francis did many things differently from his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. Who could replace him after this year’s conclave? #EuropeNews…

• 72-year old Peter Erdő is a highly conservative cardinal from Hungary. His election would mark a break from Pope Francis’ progressive legacy. Erdő has in the past spoken out against divorced or remarried Catholics receiving holy communion.

• Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is 67-years old and aligns himself with Pope Francis’ progressive values. He hails from the Philippines and was part of Pope Francis’ inner circle. Should he be elected, he would become the first ever Asian Pope. 

• Pietro Parolin, aged 70, has been serving as Vatican's Secretary of State since 2013 and could be in the running to become the next Pope. He is viewed as a moderate, but his 2015 comments which labelled same sex-marriage in Ireland a “defeat for humanity”, sparked controversy.

• 76-year old Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson, who has a track-record of being vocal on social and environmental issues, could be in the running. If he were to be elected, Cardinal Turkson would make history as the first black pope. 

• Cardinal Angelo Scola who is 82-years old and positions himself is a contender in the race. Cardinal Schola favours a centralised and hierarchical Church.

by Estelle Nilsson-Julien

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell has issued a statement describing Pope Francis as "an unflinching global champion of climate action as a vital means to deliver it."

"Through his tireless advocacy, Pope Francis reminded us there can be no shared prosperity until we make peace with nature and protect the most vulnerable, as pollution and environmental destruction bring our planet close to ‘breaking point’."

"He had a deep working knowledge of complex climate issues, and his leadership brought together those most powerful forces of faith and science to deliver unimpeachable truths, highlighting the costs of the climate crisis for billions of people."

Some of the defining images of the life of Pope Francis, the first Latin American and first Jesuit to serve as the Roman Catholic Church’s pontiff, have been collected by Euronews' culture team. Check their collation here:

Pope Francis: A life in pictures

Some of the defining images of the life of Pope Francis, the first Latin American and first Jesuit to serve as the Roman Catholic Church’s pontiff.…

“A pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten”, that is how the UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer qualified Pope Francis in a statement expressing his condolences. 

The leader praised the late pontiff’s “tireless efforts to promote a world that is fairer for all”, adding that he “was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine, persecution and poverty.”

The Pope will be remembered for his compassion and tireless work for the unity of the church, Britain's monarch Charles III has posted in a message on X.

Charles and his wife Queen Camilla visited Rome last month on a state visit when they had the opportunity to meet the ailing pontiff.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent condolences on the passing of Pope Francis, the Kremlin said on Monday, according to Reuters.

"Please accept my most sincere condolences on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis," Putin reportedly wrote to Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.

"Throughout the years of his pontificate, he actively promoted the development of dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, as well as constructive cooperation between Russia and the Holy See."

The US Vice-President JD Vance who was the last statesman to meet the pope when he visited the Vatican yesterday, has registered his sorrow in a post on X. "I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill," Vance has said. "But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful."

Fifteen days after the Pope’s passing, the papal conclave which is the closed-door process where the College of Cardinals elects the next Pope, begins, Euronews' Estelle Nilsson-Julien writes.

In order to prevent external interference, all eligible cardinals, those under the age of 80 and not excommunicated, are locked inside the Sistine Chapel. 

On the first day, they celebrate a Mass, then proceed to the chapel where they swear an oath to abide by the strict rules of secrecy that govern the election.

The voting continues daily until one candidate receives a two-thirds majority. 

After each round, the ballots are burned. Black smoke signals an inconclusive vote; white smoke announces to the world that a new Pope has been chosen. 

Modern conclaves typically last several days, but in the past voting lasted between weeks and months. Some cardinals have even died during past conclaves. 

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said she was was privileged to enjoy the pope's friendship, advice and teachings, "which never failed even in times of trial and suffering" in a long post on X in tribute toi the late pontiff.

"He asked the world, once again, for the courage of a change of course, to walk a road that 'does not destroy, but cultivates, repairs, guards.'" Meloni added in the Italian message.

"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 magisterium and legacy will not be lost. We bid farewell to the Holy Father with hearts filled with sadness, but we know that he is now in the peace of the Lord."

After a Pope dies, the Camerlengo, the cardinal who serves as the Vatican's acting administrator during the interregnum, is the first to be informed, Euronews' Estelle Nilsson-Julien writes.

If the Camerlengo calls the Pope’s name three times without receiving any reply, the Pope is subsequently declared officially dead. This triggers a death certificate to be issued and the Papal Apartments to be sealed.

The Ring of the Fisherman - a gold ring worn by the Pope and kissed by Catholics as a sign of reverence - is then destroyed. This prevents any potential document forgeries, but also marks the end of the Pope’s reign.

The news of the death is then communicated through official channels. The Pope must be buried between the fourth and sixth day after his death.

"His commitment to peace, social justice and the most vulnerable leaves a profound legacy," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said.

The wolrd has lost "an advocate for the weak, a reconciling and a warm-hearted person", German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said in tribute to Francis. "I greatly appreciated his clear view of the challenges we face."

"A good warm sensitive man," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said in a post on X.

'From Buenos Aires to Rome, Francis wanted the church to bring joy and hope to the poorest," French President Emmanuel Macron has said in a post on X, written in Italian.

He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said in a post on X in tribute to the late pontiff, "with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate."

"My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss," said von der Leyen, adding: "May they find solace in the idea that Pope Francis’ legacy will continue to guide us all toward a more just, peaceful and compassionate world."

After the death of a pope and before the election of his successor an ancient series of ceremonies and rituals will unfold, designed to select a new pontiff in three weeks time.

The pope’s death is announced by the Camerlengo after the name of the deceased pontiff has been called out at his bedside repeatedly to ensure he is dead.

The papal ring, a symbol of his authority used as a seal on official documents known as the pescatorio or fisher's ring, is then destroyed.