Pope Francis’ Passing and Legacy

CBS News highlights 10 heartwarming moments from Pope Francis’ 12-year papacy, reflecting his compassion, humility, and inclusivity. These include welcoming children to wander the altar during Mass; inviting a 12-year-old cancer survivor with Down syndrome onto the popemobile; trying basketball tricks with the Harlem Globetrotters and Cuba’s circus; petting a tiger while praising performers’ service to the marginalized; blessing the eyes of a little girl going blind; signing a Harley-Davidson later auctioned to fund an orphanage; visiting pediatric cancer patients while hospitalized; sharing his 87th birthday cake with children in need; and greeting “Spider-Man,” a volunteer who entertains hospitalized kids. The piece follows news of his death at 88, lauding his legacy of inclusion and hope.

Pope Francis died Monday at age 88 from a cerebral stroke leading to coma and irreversible heart failure, the Vatican said. His death followed years of significant health issues, including past lung surgery, recurrent respiratory illnesses, multiple hospitalizations, intestinal surgeries in 2021 and 2023, mobility problems since 2022, and a severe, weeks-long bout of bilateral pneumonia in early 2025 that involved acute respiratory failures and kidney strain. Despite periods of slight improvement, his underlying conditions culminated in the fatal stroke.

Pope Francis, who died at 88 from a stroke leading to heart failure, left a will focused solely on his burial wishes. He asked to be interred in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, where he prayed before and after each apostolic trip. He specified a simple, in-earth tomb in a side nave between the Pauline and Sforza chapels, marked only with “Franciscus,” without mention of his papacy. He entrusted expenses to a designated benefactor and concluded by offering his late-life suffering for world peace and human fraternity, asking for prayers from the faithful.

CNN outlines logistics for visiting Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral and the subsequent conclave. The funeral is set for Saturday, April 26 at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, open to the public without tickets but with long lines and security. Prior to that, the pope will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica with extended public hours through Friday and a coffin-closing ceremony at 8 p.m. Friday. Francis, who asked for simpler rites and chose to be buried outside the Vatican, will be interred at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Nine days of mourning (Novendiales) follow the funeral, with daily Masses and cardinals arriving for the conclave. The conclave can begin no earlier than May 6; dates are decided by the cardinals. Crowds gather in St. Peter’s Square to watch for smoke signals: black for no decision, white for a new pope. On day one there’s one evening vote; afterward there are four votes daily (two morning, two afternoon), with breaks every five days until a pope is elected. Access to the square requires security checks; there are no seats, and waits can be long. Travel tips: Rome has two airports—Fiumicino (main international hub) and Ciampino (budget carriers). The Leonardo Express runs from Fiumicino to Termini; fixed-rate taxis cost €55 from Fiumicino and €40 from Ciampino. Consider high-speed rail via Milan or Naples if flying into other Italian cities. For lodging, Vatican-adjacent areas like Prati offer proximity; central districts such as Campo Marzio, Campo de’ Fiori, and Piazza Navona are walkable to the Vatican. Expect heavy demand due to the Jubilee and plan well ahead.

Pope Francis, who died at 88 from a stroke that led to heart failure, left a 2022 will requesting a simple burial at the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he long entrusted his ministry to the Virgin Mary. He asked to be interred in the earth with no special adornment and only the inscription “Franciscus,” in a specific aisle between the Pauline and Sforza chapels, with costs covered by a designated benefactor. Vatican officials said he also had respiratory issues, bilateral pneumonia, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. Francis, elected in 2013 as the first Jesuit pope, made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday.