Pope Francis, the 266th and current pope of the Catholic Church, passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. He died in his residence at Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City, following complications from a cerebral stroke and cardiac arrest.

The Vatican has released the first photos that show Pope Francis lying in state after the head of the Catholic church died on Easter Monday.

Pope Francis is breaking with tradition when it comes to where he will be laid to rest – choosing a light-filled basilica with an intriguing history instead of the grottoes of the Vatican.