The life of the Church does not stop with the death of the pope. While it is human and necessary to mourn the pope’s passing, as one mourns any person’s death, there is always consolation in the fact that few people are prayed for as much as a sick and dying pope. After the set period without a pope – the sede vacante – a new pope is elected, assumes his office, and the life of the Church continues “as before.” Every pope is chosen at a particular moment and for a particular time.
I. The Death and Funeral of the Pope
During Pope Francis’s long hospitalization from February 14 to March 23, Catholics around the world gradually became aware that these might well be the final days of the 88-year-old pope. Prayers were offered for his recovery, and many hoped he would live to complete the Jubilee Year of Hope, which he had declared and clearly awaited with great expectation. But God chose otherwise. In His providence, He allowed Francis to recover enough to return home, and before Easter, the pope was even able to greet the faithful a few more times.
Pope Francis’s last public appearance was on Easter Sunday, April 20, when he gave the Urbi et Orbi blessing, weak and nearly voiceless. The next morning, April 21, he died in his private apartment at 7:35 a.m. Italian time. Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell officially announced the death around 9:45 a.m., in accordance with Church regulations, together with others who confirmed the pope’s passing.
The pope’s coffin was brought to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, April 23, where the public could say their farewells before the open coffin. On Friday evening, the coffin was closed following tradition: a death certificate, a commemorative coin from each year of his pontificate, and a rogito document (see p. 17) were placed inside. Nearly 200,000 people came to pay their final respects.
The funeral Mass was held on Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square. The main celebrant was Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, who delivered a homily reflecting on the most memorable moments and emphases of Pope Francis’s pontificate. Approximately 250,000 people attended the Mass, including dozens of heads of state, kings, presidents, and prime ministers – among them Finland’s President Alexander Stubb. The Mass was broadcast live in Finland and viewed by an average of 341,000 people.
After the Mass, the coffin was taken in procession to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where it was interred to the left of the entrance to the Pauline Chapel. This chapel is especially dear to Pope Francis as it houses the Salus Populi Romani (Protectress of the Roman People) icon. He would pray before it before and after each of his journeys. At the pope’s request, the grave was kept very simple. The headstone reads only “Franciscus.” Pope Francis was the first pope since Leo XIII to be buried outside St. Peter’s Basilica. Leo XIII is buried in the Lateran Basilica, the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome and thus the mother church of all Catholic churches.
The Pope and the Favor of the World
It is likely too early to assess the enduring impact of Pope Francis’s pontificate. But certain things can already be said. First, his approach to the papacy, his public demeanor, and his recurring themes stand out. In many ways, Pope Francis was quite radical. He deliberately avoided certain traditional papal symbols, such as not wearing the red mozzetta on the balcony of St. Peter’s, and declined to live in the Apostolic Palace, even though the papal residence there is modest, preferring instead to stay closer to the people. He distanced himself from his predecessors while repeatedly affirming he was “a faithful son of the Church.”
In this way, he quickly won the world’s affection. Few popes have garnered as many non-Catholic admirers as Pope Francis. His message of poverty and simplicity resonated globally. His visits to prisons and refugee centers were powerful statements in defense of the afflicted and for the dignity of all people. He will be remembered as a pope who emphasized mercy and compassion, love of neighbor, and moderation in resource use, and who reminded the world that every person deserves attention and respect – even when their way of life differs from our ideals.
A Reformer of the Church
Within the Church, Pope Francis sought to address financial and structural issues in the Roman Curia and diversified the College of Cardinals by appointing more members from the “peripheries” – regions and countries where the Catholic presence is small or still young. This reflects his deep concern that the Gospel of Jesus Christ must be brought to all – to those who have never heard it and those who, though baptized, do not practice their faith. The closeness of our Lord Jesus Christ and following him brings true joy and freedom to every person – perhaps the core message of Francis’s pontificate.
In conflicts, he constantly emphasized peace and urged parties to see situations through the lens of human suffering. He fostered relations with the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, recognizing many of its bishops, and persisted in advocating for peace talks amid wars. In liturgical matters, Francis strongly defended the current Mass against increasing celebration of older liturgical forms permitted by his predecessor. He also worked extensively to promote interreligious dialogue, aiming to make religion a source of peace and reconciliation rather than conflict and violence.
Perhaps most consequential was his promotion of synodality – walking together, listening to all members of the Church, and responding to their concerns. For Francis, synodality was not about new structures but about a spirit of listening and decision-making rooted in shared discernment.
The Joy of the Gospel, Listening to All
How will we remember Pope Francis? Everyone has their own impression, but perhaps history will recall him primarily as a pope who trusted in God’s mercy, drew joy from the truth of the Gospel, and sought to reveal God’s loving face to everyone, everywhere.
These same themes are now on Pope Leo’s desk. He will carry them forward with his own vision and charism. Pope Francis’s earthly mission is complete. May he now pray from heaven for his successor Leo, for us, and for all humanity. May he rest in peace.
II. The Successor of Saint Peter
After the nine-day mourning period following the funeral, preparations for electing a new pope began. As more cardinals arrived in Rome, discussions commenced about the state of the Church and the world and what was needed in a new pope. Two extra days were allotted for these conversations, and the conclave began on Wednesday, May 7. On that first day, only one round of voting was held, with 133 cardinals under the age of 80 participating.
White smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel already at 18:07 on Thursday, May 8 – a somewhat surprising outcome. The new pope was elected in the fourth ballot. The cardinals had acted with efficiency and consensus, as reflected in their interviews. Their unified message: the Church is united, and once again, a new successor of Saint Peter has been chosen for the Church and the world.
And so it is. Every pope is chosen for a particular time and situation, both in the Church and in the world. But he is elected as the successor not of the most recent pope but of the first – Saint Peter the Apostle. With each pope, the Church must return to its source – to Christ Jesus himself, and to the mission entrusted to Peter. The pope is not called to be served but to serve – servus servorum Dei, the servant of the servants of God.
“With You I Am a Christian; for You I Am a Bishop”
When the new pope was elected, Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti announced the joyous news to the crowds gathered in and around St. Peter’s Square with the famous words “Habemus papam (We have a pope).” The joy was boundless. It was no longer just a Catholic celebration – millions, perhaps billions of non-Catholics also followed and anticipated the election. Such is the stature of the papacy today.
The new pope, Leo XIV, 69-year-old Robert Francis Prevost O.S.A., a member of the Order of Saint Augustine, stepped onto the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, greeted the people, and gave his first Urbi et Orbi blessing. In his greeting, the Holy Father said:
Peace be with you all!
Dear brothers and sisters, these are the first words spoken by the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for God’s flock. I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world. Peace be with you!
It is the peace of the risen Christ. A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all, unconditionally. We can still hear the faint yet ever courageous voice of Pope Francis as he blessed Rome, the Pope who blessed Rome, who gave his blessing to the world, the whole world, on the morning of Easter.
Allow me to extend that same blessing: God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail! All of us are in God’s hands. So, let us move forward, without fear, together, hand in hand with God and with one another other! We are followers of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs his light. Humanity needs him as the bridge that can lead us to God and his love. Help us, one and all, to build bridges through dialogue and encounter, joining together as one people, always at peace. Thank you, Pope Francis!
I also thank my brother Cardinals, who have chosen me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk together with you as a Church, united, ever pursuing peace and justice, ever seeking to act as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, in order to proclaim the Gospel without fear, to be missionaries.
I am an Augustinian, a son of Saint Augustine, who once said, “With you I am a Christian, and for you I am a bishop.” In this sense, all of us can journey together toward the homeland that God has prepared for us.
A special greeting to the Church of Rome! Together, we must look for ways to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges and encourages dialogue, a Church ever open to welcoming, like this Square with its open arms, all those who are in need of our charity, our presence, our readiness to dialogue and our love.
[In Spanish:] And if you also allow me a brief word, a greeting to everyone and in particular to my beloved Diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, where a faithful people has accompanied its Bishop, shared its faith and given so much, so much, to continue being a faithful Church of Jesus Christ.
To all of you, brothers and sisters in Rome, in Italy, throughout the world: we want to be a synodal Church, a Church that moves forward, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close above all to those who are suffering.
Today is the day of the Prayer of Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk at our side, to remain close to us, to help us with her intercession and her love. So I would like to pray together with you. Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world, and let us ask Mary, our Mother, for this special grace: Hail Mary…
The First Steps of a Papacy
Each new pope must gradually begin his ministry, confirm and strengthen the functioning of the Roman Curia, find his own rhythm, and over time make necessary changes to papal household and Curial structures in accordance with his working style. Pope Leo has done just that.
His inaugural Mass was celebrated on Sunday, May 18, with at least 200,000 people attending. Finland was represented by Minister of Education Anders Adlercreutz. The homily from the Mass can be read on page 10.
In the first days and weeks, the public and the faithful have gotten a clearer image of the new pope. His American identity – being born in the United States – is not the most prominent feature. More important is his deep and long experience in missionary work in Peru, his leadership of the Augustinian Order, and most recently his work as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops – a real vantage point on the Church’s global reality. He has already announced his intent to continue Pope Francis’s legacy of promoting synodality in the Church.
Pope Leo brings continuity not only with his immediate predecessor but also with earlier popes, quoting Benedict XVI, John Paul II, John Paul I, and Paul VI. In Leo, the Church has received a humble and gentle shepherd who draws strength and vision from his Order’s 1,500-year-old tradition, from the Church’s rich spiritual heritage, and from the legacy of previous Popes with the name Leo – a legacy at times even prophetic. Time will tell how his pontificate unfolds. For now, we can pray for him and, by listening to his teaching, come to know Christ, our Lord, ever more deeply.
Marko Tervaportti