Pope Francis, the first pope born in the Americas, dies of a stroke at 88

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Pope Francis, head of Catholic Church, dies at age 88

Pope Francis makes final public appearance on Easter Sunday before his death

Pope Francis, the first pope born in the Americas, has died at the age of 88 following weeks of intermittent hospital visits for chronic lung disease treatment.

The Argentinian-born pope held his position for 12 years and made his final public appearance the day before on Easter Sunday.

• In pictures: The Life and Legacy of Pope Francis

Here were the events of the day:

4:03 p.m. EDT: Trump to attend Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he will attend Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome.

“Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome,” Trump said on Truth Social.

Reuters

2:11 p.m. EDT: Vatican reveals cause of Pope Francis’ death

Pope Francis died of a stroke and irreversible heart failure, Vatican doctor Andrea Arcangeli said in a death certificate released on Monday for the 88-year-old pontiff.

The certificate, which was published by the Vatican, said the pope had fallen into a coma before his death early on Monday.

The former pope confirmed in his final testament that he wished to be buried in Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major and not at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, unlike many previous pontiffs.

The text specified that Francis wanted to be buried “in the ground, without particular decoration” but with the inscription of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.

Reuters

12:47 p.m. EDT: Sports world mourns soccer-loving Pope Francis

Top-flight soccer matches in Italy and Argentina were postponed after the death of Pope Francis on Monday.

All sports events scheduled for Easter Monday in Italy were postponed and three top-flight games in Argentina were postponed from Monday to Tuesday.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he was “deeply saddened” over the pope’s death.

“I was privileged enough to spend some time with him on a couple of occasions, and he always shared his enthusiasm for football and stressed the important role our sport plays in society,” Infantino said on Instagram. “All the prayers of the whole football world are with him.”

Tennis great Rafael Nadal expressed his “sincere condolences” for Francis in a post on X in Spanish.

“He was always one of us,” Argentine club San Lorenzo, nicknamed “the Saints,” said in tribute on Instagram, remembering how Francis watched its 1946 championship team as a boy.

A planned new San Lorenzo stadium is to be named for Francis.

The Associated Press

Read the full story here.

12:17 p.m. EDT: Pope’s legacy will inspire Canadians forever: Trudeau

Former prime minister Justin Trudeau offered his “deepest condolences to Catholics and everyone around the world” following the death of Pope Francis.

“What inspired me most, and helped me personally through our conversations, is how as a Jesuit he demonstrated that true rational thought finds its highest expression in compassion and service to all God’s creation,” Trudeau said in a statement on X.

“The legacy he left here in Canada, including his work on reconciliation, will continue to inspire Canadians forever. That brilliance of heart marked Francis’s life, and leadership.”

Michael Lee, CTVNews.ca lead morning producer

12:11 p.m. EDT: Pope knew suffering of ‘millions, billions’: analyst

Vatican analyst Gerard O’Connell says Pope Francis will be distinguished from previous leaders for being connected to “grassroots people around the world.”

“He knew the suffering of millions, billions,” O’Connell told CTV News Channel. “He knew the sufferings of people in war, people who are suffering from war, and he spoke for those who were unable to speak for themselves, and this connected him with people.”

O’Connell notes how Pope Francis was vocal on many world issues: he spoke on the Ukraine-Russia war, the Israel-Gaza war, Myanmar, Sudan, his concern with how governments run their economies and how they approach migrants and immigrants, and the Catholic Church’s part in the residential school system in Canada.

Pope Francis visited Canada in 2022 and made an historic apology to Indigenous people.

“They saw that this man was concerned for them, for their well-being, for their dignity, their future and he was speaking for them at times when they were even afraid to speak for themselves.”

In his last speech from the balcony in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Sunday, he took the opportunity to speak on some of these world conflicts again.

“In a way, it was his last witness to this care for the poor and the underprivileged in this world,” O’Connell said.

O’Connell notes Pope Francis was particularly vocal on the Trump administration’s policies toward migrants and immigrants.

“Pope Francis had openly said this is a disgrace, it should not be happening,” O’Connell said. “And yet, (U.S. Vice-President) JD Vance met him yesterday, the last public leader to meet the pope.”

“Who knows what impact this will have on Vance.”

Robin Della Corte, CTVNews.ca journalist

Read more from Gerard O’Connell on the secretive transition when the pope dies.

12 p.m. EDT: Public likely can start paying final respects Wednesday

The Vatican says the general public likely can begin paying final respects to Pope Francis starting Wednesday in St. Peter’s Basilica. The date will be confirmed when cardinals gather for the first time after Francis’ death.

Francis’ coffin will be moved from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived to St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing. In a change ordered by Francis, the pope’s body will no longer placed on an elevated bier in the basilica. Rather, the wooden coffin will be placed facing the pews.

No date for the funeral has been announced. It must be held between four and six days after the death.

The Associated Press

11:25 a.m. EDT: ‘His example will not be forgotten’: Singh

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh described the pope as someone who earned the respect of millions for his actions.

“Pope Francis showed the world that faith can be a powerful force for justice,” Singh said in a statement.

“He spoke plainly about poverty, inequality, and the climate crisis — and he challenged political and economic leaders to put people before profits. He didn’t just preach humility and compassion — he lived it. And in doing so, he earned the respect of millions, including many far beyond the Catholic Church.”

Singh added that the pope’s apology to residential school survivors during his visit to Canada in 2022 “was a meaningful step toward truth and accountability — one that brought deep emotions for many Indigenous families and communities.”

“His passing is a loss for all who believe in dignity, fairness, and care for one another. His example will not be forgotten,” Singh said.

Michael Lee, CTVNews.ca lead morning producer

11:05 a.m. EDT: Pope’s body to be laid in coffin today

The pope’s body will be laid in a coffin in Rome at 2 p.m. EDT. The rite of the certification of death with be presided over by Irish Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, according to a statement from the Vatican.

“Following the notification of the death of the Roman Pontiff Francis, in accordance with the provisions of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (nos. 21-40), this evening, Monday 21 April, at 20.00, His Reverend Eminence Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of the certification of death and the laying of the body in the coffin,” the statement reads.

10:25 a.m. EDT: Pope Francis spent final day working, despite doctors’ orders

After spending more than five weeks in hospital for a bout of double pneumonia, doctors told Pope Francis he needed two months’ rest - but the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics kept working right to the end.

On Easter Sunday, the day before his death, Francis made his first prolonged public appearance since February, entering St. Peter’s Square in a white popemobile to greet cheering crowds.

And for only the second time since leaving hospital on March 23, the pope also met on Sunday with foreign leaders, welcoming U.S. Vice-President JD Vance to his residence for a brief encounter.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and his family also had a brief meeting with Francis on Sunday.

For someone in convalescence after a prolonged illness, Francis was working himself hard.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, a senior Vatican official who was close to Francis, said: “Absolute rest isn’t healing,” adding: “He balanced convalescence with his being the Bishop of Rome.”

Read the full story here.

Reuters

9:30 a.m. EDT: Royal Family ‘deeply saddened’

Buckingham Palace released a statement from King Charles and Queen Camilla paying tribute to Pope Francis’ “compassion” and “tireless commitment” to people of faith.

“His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others,” the King said.

“His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many.”

The King and Queen met the pope in Italy earlier this month, where they held a private meeting.

9:10 a.m. EDT: Carney remembers the pope

Liberal Leader Mark Carney is paying tribute to Pope Francis, calling him a “voice of moral clarity, spiritual courage and boundless compassion.”

“He was the world’s conscience - never hesitating to challenge the powerful on behalf of the vulnerable,” Carney said during a campaign stop in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

The Liberal leader remembered the pope’s work on advancing peace and human rights, pointing to the papal visit in Canada in 2022 when Francis issued an apology for the Catholic church’s role in residential school abuses.

Carney shared that one of the pope’s parables has guided his thinking.

“He compared humanity to wine – rich, diverse, full of spirit – and the market to grappa – distilled, intense, and at times disconnected – and he called on all of us to reintegrate human values into our economic lives,” the Liberal leader said.

“He reminded us that markets don’t have values, people do, and it is our responsibility to close that gap, to turn that grappa back into wine.”

Carney says he is committed to fulfilling the pope’s challenge.

Bryann Aguilar, CTVNews.ca federal election journalist

8:45 a.m. EDT: ‘May he rest in peace’: AFN chief

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak shared some photos on Facebook as a tribute to the late pope.

“Pope Francis, he apologized to our people. There was strong resistance to an apology. But he did it anyways. I thank him for that and for his Life’s work here on earth. May he rest in peace,” she wrote.

The pope visited Canada in a 2022 tour after meeting with a delegation of Indigenous Canadians who went to Rome.

The pope said he was sorry that some members of the church participated in the abuse, cultural destruction and forced assimilation of Indigenous Peoples.

Lynn Chaya, Breaking Digital Assignment Editor

8:25 a.m. EDT: Trump, Biden make statements

U.S. President Donald Trump has shared a post on Truth Social commenting on pope Francis’ death.

“Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!” Trump wrote.

Former U.S. president Joe Biden also shared his condolences on X, saying the pope was unlike any who came before him.

“Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him,” Biden wrote.

“As Pope, he was a loving pastor and challenging teacher who reached out to different faiths. He commanded us to fight for peace and protect our planet from a climate crisis. He advocated for the voiceless and powerless. He made all feel welcome and seen by the Church. He promoted equity and an end to poverty and suffering across the globe. And above all, he was a Pope for everyone. He was the People’s Pope - a light of faith, hope, and love.”

Lynn Chaya, Breaking Digital Assignment Editor

8:05 a.m. EDT: Could a Canadian become the next pope?

After the death/resignation of Francis on Monday, the Catholic Church will be choosing a new leader. While there are four Canadian cardinals who could become the next pope, one expert whom CTVNews.ca spoke to said that outcome is ‘very unlikely.’

There are only five Canadian cardinals out of the 252 total, according to the Vatican’s website. But only four of them are eligible to vote out of the 138 voters in the conclave, as cardinals must be under 80 to vote.

Canada’s cardinals are Thomas Collins, Gerald Lacroix, Michael Czerny, Francis Leo and Marc Ouellet. All of them are eligible to be chosen as pope by their peers, as any baptized Catholic male can technically be elected pope.

The chance of electing a Canadian pope is “very unlikely,” says Emma Anderson, professor of religious studies at the University of Ottawa.

Most of the cardinals hail from Europe (114), followed by Asia (37), South America (32), Africa (29), North America (28), Central America (8) and Oceania (4).

Read the full story here.

Christl Dabu, CTVNews.ca National Affairs Writer

7:50 a.m. EDT: Poilievre shares condolences

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre offered his condolences to the late Pope Francis in a post on X.

“I offer my deepest condolences to all Catholics on the passing of Pope Francis. His humility, compassion, and steadfast faith had a profound impact on millions of Canadians and others around the world from every faith background,” he said.

Poilievre then reminisced on the pope’s historic pilgrimage to Canada when he sought to begin the process of reconciliation between the church and Indigenous communities.

“We join in thankful prayer with the Catholic faithful for his legacy of humble service and his message of love that will continue to inspire a world in need of hope.”

Lynn Chaya, Breaking Digital Assignment Editor

7:15 a.m. EDT: Tributes from leaders

Tributes to Pope Francis instantly poured in from around the world from presidents to people of all walks of life.

U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, who on Easter Sunday met with the pope, wrote on X on Monday that his “heart goes out” to the millions of Christians who loved him, and said: “I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill.”

On social media, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez hailed Francis for focusing on the world’s most vulnerable; Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted a photo of himself on X with the pope, both smiling, and called Francis a “kind, warm and compassionate person”; Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said that Francis “was in every way a man of the people.”

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said in a statement that Francis leaves behind “a great human legacy that will remain etched in the conscience of humanity” and called him “an exceptional global figure who dedicated his life to serving the values of peace and justice.”

Read the full story here.

The Associated Press

7:05 a.m. EDT: The leading candidates

Any baptized Roman Catholic male is eligible to be pope, but since 1378, only cardinals have been selected. Some current leading candidates include:

• Cardinal Pietro Parolin of Italy, 70, Francis’ secretary of state and a veteran Vatican diplomat.
• Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Canada, 80, head of the Vatican’s bishop’s office from 2010 to 2023.
• Read the text of the announcement of Pope Francis’ death
• Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn of Austria, 80, a student of Pope Benedict XVI, and thus ostensibly having appeal for conservatives.
• Cardinal Luis Tagle of the Philippines, 67, brought by Francis to head the Vatican’s massive missionary office.
• Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Italy, 69, a Francis protégé who headed the Italian bishops conference.

Read the full story here.

The Associated Press

7 a.m. EDT: Pope’s historic residential schools apology

Pope Francis will be remembered by Canadian Catholics as a progressive leader whose approach to the papacy helped usher in a new era of Indigenous relations and make the church more responsive to its rank and file.

His most lasting impact in Canada is likely to be his response to one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action: that he apologized for the legacy of residential schools on Canadian soil.

He did so on a tour of Canada in 2022, months after meeting with a delegation of Indigenous Canadians who went to Rome.

The pope said he was sorry that some members of the church participated in the abuse, cultural destruction and forced assimilation of Indigenous Peoples.

Read the full story here.

The Canadian Press

6:45 a.m. EDT: Who’s in charge after the Pope’s death?

If the pope has died, the camerlengo, or chamberlain, must certify the death and seal the papal apartment. He runs administrative and financial duties of the Holy See until a new pope takes over.

The largely ceremonial job of camerlengo is currently held by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Irish-born American head of the Vatican’s laity office.

Nearly all prefects of Vatican offices lose their jobs when a pope dies, but a few stay on, including the foreign minister and the master of liturgical ceremonies, who plays a key role in assembling the conclave.

The dean of the College of Cardinals summons the cardinals for the funeral, presiding at the mass before the conclave begins. That position is currently held by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the retired head of the Vatican’s office for bishops.

In November 2024, Francis reformed the rites to be used for his funeral, simplifying them to emphasize his role as a mere bishop and allowing for burial outside the Vatican. Francis has chosen to be buried in St. Mary Major Basilica, where his favourite icon of the Virgin Mary, the Salus Populi Romani, is located.

The Associated Press