World mourns Pope Francis as White House offers condolences
On the White House's profile on platform X, condolences were posted following the death of Pope Francis. "Rest in Peace, Pope Francis," reads the short entry, which includes pictures of the Holy Father with Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.
What do you need to know?
- The White House published photos with Pope Francis, featuring President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.
- Vice President Vance expressed condolences following the Pope's death, emphasizing solidarity with millions of Christians.
- The photos were published on the X platform, showing the presidential couple’s audience with the Pope.
The White House bids farewell to Pope Francis
The White House published on platform X photos showing Pope Francis in the company of President Donald Trump and his wife Melania. These photographs are from an audience during which the presidential couple met with the Holy Father. In another photo, Vice President J.D. Vance, who also had the opportunity to meet with the Pope in Vatican City, just a day before the Pope's death, is visible.
Pope Francis has passed away
Pope Francis has passed away - he died Monday morning in Vatican City at the age of 88. Just the day before, he appeared in public, blessing the faithful from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. The Vatican confirmed that the cause of death was complications related to his long-standing health issues. Preparations for the funeral and the conclave to choose his successor are underway.
Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires. He was the first pope from South America and the first Jesuit to hold this position. He was elected to the Holy See on March 13, 2013, following the resignation of Benedict XVI.
What do you need to know about the Pope's death?
The Pope's death triggers a precisely planned sequence of actions intended to ensure the continuity of the Church's function and a dignified farewell to its leader. Francis appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica just the day before his death to give the Urbi et Orbi blessing and then got into the popemobile and rode around the square for a long time – as it turned out later, it was his last public presence.
Immediately upon the confirmation of death, strictly defined rituals begin – the body is taken to St. Peter's Basilica, and the person holding the office of camerlengo pronounces the Pope's name three times and touches his forehead with a silver hammer, which symbolically confirms the death of the Church's leader.
The responsibility for assuming authority in Vatican City at this time lies with the camerlengo – currently American Cardinal Kevin Farrell – who, among other duties, destroys the papal Fisherman's Ring and coordinates preparations for the conclave, the procedure for electing a new pope.
The conclave begins several days after the funeral and proceeds in strict secrecy – the elector cardinals are locked in the Sistine Chapel and vote until the election of the new head of the Church, in accordance with centuries-old procedures and precise protocol.
