Live Reporting
Edited by Emily Atkinson, with Laura Gozzi reporting from Rome
Vatican shares details of Pope's final moments as funeral plans announcedpublished at 22:34 British Summer Time 22 April
22:34 BST 22 April
Andrew Humphrey
Live page editorImage source, ReutersAs Catholics around the world continue to mourn Pope Francis, more details emerged today both about his death and what comes next.
Accounts of pontiff's final moments were shared by the Vatican. Those with him described "a discreet death, almost sudden, without long suffering or public alarm".
The Vatican also shared images of Pope Francis lying in his open coffin in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, his papal residence and where he died on Easter Monday.
This morning, cardinals met to make arrangements for the funeral, deciding that the service would be held on Saturday in front of St Peter's Basilica.
Donald Trump, Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky were among world leaders to confirm their attendance. Kensington Palace also announced that Prince William would travel to the Vatican on behalf of his father, King Charles.
Before that, the public will have a chance to pay their respects to the Pope when his body is moved tomorrow morning to lie in state at St Peter's until his burial at St Mary Major in Rome on Saturday.
We're bringing our coverage to an end now, but you can keep up with developments in our news story.
Join us again here on Wednesday for updates and analysis from the Vatican and around the world.
'He was the people’s Pope and he broke all the protocols'published at 22:31 British Summer Time 22 April
22:31 BST 22 April
Marina Rossi
BBC News BrasilImage source, Rennan LaurenteIn Brazil, apredominantly Catholic country, the memory of the Pope Francis remains with millions ofBrazilians who were in Rio de Janeiro in 2013 when he visited the country.
Rennan Laurentewas a volunteer helping organise the route the Pope would take through thestreets of the city.
"It never crossed my mind that I would get so closeto him," she says.
When the Popemobile was approaching, a couple asked Rennan to hold up their son, Miguel,so he could be blessed. But a security guard signalled no with his finger.
“Atthat moment, the Pope passed by in the Popemobile and waved threetimes with his hand," Rennan recalls.
“He kissedMiguel’s head, made the sign of the cross on his forehead, and then placed hishand on my forehead,” she says.
“We saw his kindness and nobility. He was thepeople’s Pope and he broke all the protocols.”
What happens after the death of Pope Francis?published at 22:09 British Summer Time 22 April
22:09 BST 22 April
How did Pope Francis die?
The Vatican said he died following a stroke and subsequent irreversible heart failure at 07:35 local time (06:35 BST) on Monday.
It followed a period of ill-health that saw the Pope spend five weeks in hospital with double pneumonia.
When is the funeral?
On Saturday in front of St Peter's Basilica.
The Pope will lie in state inside the church from Wednesday morning, and will remain there until his burial at St Mary Major in Rome, also on Saturday.
How is a new Pope chosen?
Once Pope Francis is buried, the dean of the College of Cardinals has up to 20 days to summon the cardinals to the Vatican to begin the process of electing the next Pope, known as a conclave.
The below graphic goes through the key steps in the process.
Who can become Pope?
Roman Catholic men who have been baptised can be considered for election to become Pope.
In theory, this could be any baptised man, but in practice, cardinals prefer to select one of their own.
'Seeing the Pope in person inspired me to become a priest'published at 21:50 British Summer Time 22 April
21:50 BST 22 April
Marina Rossi
BBC News BrasilMany in Brazil people remember Pope Francis’s visit to the country in 2013.
Murilo Bernardeswas among the thousands whowent to Rio de Janeiro to see the Pope inperson, and says his life was transformed bythe experience.
“I had a goodjob, I was in a relationship, but I didn’t feel happy,” he says. “I went to Riowith no expectations. But when I saw that crowd, I thought, ‘this is where Ibelong'.”
“Seeing the Popewas incredibly moving. He’s so charismatic - it felt like hewas looking into each of our eyes.”
Bernardes says hereturned to his home in the countryside of São Paulo “with a heart full ofcertainty about what I wanted”.
He left his job as an IT assistant and entered the seminary to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a priest. Father Murilo was ordainedin 2020.
“I have a deep love for Pope Francis," he says.
Israeli social media tribute to Pope deletedpublished at 21:36 British Summer Time 22 April
21:36 BST 22 April
Sebastian Usher
Reporting from JersusalemThe official Israel X account shared a picture of Pope Francis praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, with a caption reading: "May his memory be a blessing."
It was just one of the thousands of such messages issued by countries around the world.
But it was swiftly removed, apparently out of concern for a backlash from sectors of the Israeli public who see Pope Francis as having been anti-Israeli because of his repeated expressions of sympathy for the Palestinians, which intensified during the war in Gaza.
The Pope also spoke of Israeli suffering, but this doesn't seem to have assuaged his critics in Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself hasn't issued any public expression of mourning, although the country's president Isaac Herzog did offer an eloquent eulogy, praising Pope Francis as a man of deep faith and boundless compassion.
'He changed the way I view religion': Young Brits reflect on Pope's legacypublished at 21:25 British Summer Time 22 April
21:25 BST 22 April
Shaun Dacosta and Srosh Khan
BBC NewsbeatBBC Newsbeat has been speaking to younger people in the UK about how they remember Pope Francis.
"He was a great man," Lily, 22, tells us from outside a Catholic church in Liverpool.
"Hopefully the next person can expand on his work and follow the same values and do more."
"I think the Catholic church needed a change. You can't really base values nowadays on something that was written thousands of years ago. He went about it in a manner that was still respectful to the Catholic church."
Image source, BenulUniversity student Benul, 20, is an altar server at his church in Sheffield.
"He really changed the way I view religion," he says of the late Pope.
"I found I could relate to him on many things. Even his age and where he's from... none of that really mattered to me because I felt I could really connect to him.
"He was a Pope of the people... young people loved him."
'The world’s smallest army’published at 21:19 British Summer Time 22 April
21:19 BST 22 April
Image source, ReutersDressed in striped yellow, blue and red uniforms, the Swiss Guard is a striking sight at the Vatican.
Often known as "the world's smallest army", this 135-strong force has protected the Pope for five centuries.
Popular myth says their traditional garb, in the colours of the Medici family, were designed by Michelangelo, but they were actually created by the Swiss Guard Commander in 1905.
The Pope's army hails from Switzerland because during the Middle Ages and Renaissance the Swiss developed a reputation for being among Europe's best and most reliable mercenary soldiers.
Recruits of the prestigious force must be Swiss, Catholic, single and under the age of 30. They are also required to complete basic training with the Swiss army.
When there is no Pope, they protect the College of the Cardinals during sede vacante.
Image source, Reuters'Pope Francis was full of life - and showed us how to live'published at 21:00 British Summer Time 22 April
21:00 BST 22 April
Image source, ReutersPope Francis's biographer has just been to pay his respects to the late pontiff, whose body has been placed in an open casket in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta.
Austin Iverleigh tells the BBC that it wasn't until this visit that news of the Pope's death had truly sunk in.
Asked what Pope Francis was like in life, Iverleigh says he was a "extraordinary mixture of characteristics", describing him as a joyful man who "gave out an enormous vitality".
"He always made you feel like he wanted you to be with him... he was a person that people are naturally drawn to.
"He was someone who was full of life, and also showed us how to live," Iverleigh adds.
When will the public be allowed to say their final goodbye?published at 20:41 British Summer Time 22 April
20:41 BST 22 April
In the lead-up to the funeral on Saturday, visitors will be given the opportunity to pay their respects to Pope Francis as he lies inside an open coffin in St Peter's Basilica.
This traditional period of lying in state lasts from from Wednesday until Saturday, giving mourners a chance to say a final goodbye.
The Pope's body will be ceremonially moved into position inside the Basilica at 9:00 local time (08:00 BST) tomorrow morning.
Following that, the Vatican says the basilica will open to anyone who wishes to visit during the following times:
- Wednesday, 23 April: 11:00 - 24:00 local time
- Thursday, 24 April: 7:00 - 24:00 local time
- Friday, 25 April: 7:00 - 19:00 local time
Italian dignitaries pay their respectspublished at 20:24 British Summer Time 22 April
20:24 BST 22 April
At the Vatican, mourners have been continuing to visit the Pope's residence to pay homage to the late pontiff, who lies in an open coffin.
Image source, Vatican Media'He was a source of great pride' - hometown football club honours pontiffpublished at 20:07 British Summer Time 22 April
20:07 BST 22 April
Fans started gathering at San Lorenzo football club's chapel from Monday, to bid farewell to Pope Francis.
"The Pope leaves an unbreakable legacy," club President Marcelo Moretti tells Reuters news agency. "For all San Lorenzo fans, he was a source of great pride. It is a very sad day."
Moretti says he met Francis several times, most recently last September to ask permission to name a new stadium after him in the Boedo neighbourhood where the club is based.
"He accepted, with great emotion," Moretti says.
Some of those working at the club's chapel on Monday could be seen carrying football shirts, adorned with the Pope's face and name.
Image source, ReutersImage source, ReutersPope statue in Argentina wears his football team's colourspublished at 19:51 British Summer Time 22 April
19:51 BST 22 April
Ione Wells
Reporting from Buenos AiresPope Francis is not just remembered in Argentina for his work helping the poor and serving communities while archbishop of Buenos Aires - he is also known as a big fan of his local football team, San Lorenzo.
The club is currently planning commemorative events for him at its on-site chapel, and there is even a statue here of him donning the club colours.
Mourners gather outside Vatican walls for sombre moment in historypublished at 19:33 British Summer Time 22 April
19:33 BST 22 April
Mark Lowen
Reporting from RomeImage source, BBC/Iqra FarooqI’ve spent the last few hours perched between the tables of Il Pozzetto restaurant on the gorgeous cobbled street of Borgo Pio, a couple of hundred metres from the Vatican.
It's a place that I used to pop to during my years as the BBC's Rome correspondent, where the usual daily fare of spaghetti carbonara or tiramisu is now enjoyed not just by locals but also by pilgrims, who have come in their tens of thousands since the death of Pope Francis yesterday.
Among them are Savannah, Paul, Alison, Galia and Eli. They tell me the air is thick with emotion.
The group travelled to Rome from the US to celebrate Savannah’s recent confirmation, but say they’re now honoured to be part of a sombre moment in history.
Meanwhile, American Catholic Steve Bouchey tells me he has had a tough year - he lost his wife and suffered a string of health issues - so a friend who works at the Vatican arranged a private audience for him with Pope Francis tomorrow.
Steve tells me he will instead be going to view the Pope's body.
“I think this is meant to be, to be in his presence somehow," he says.
Pope to be moved to St Peter's Basilica tomorrowpublished at 19:23 British Summer Time 22 April
19:23 BST 22 April
From tomorrow until his funeral on Saturday, the Pope will lie in state inside the iconic St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican for a period of public mourning.
We've created this guide to how the day will play out - take a look at our graphic below get a sense of the space in which mourners will be invited to pay their respects:
Streets bustling around Vatican ahead of Pope's funeralpublished at 19:11 British Summer Time 22 April
19:11 BST 22 April
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from RomeImage source, ReutersRome is always teeming, and Easter usually kicks off the longtourist season.
This year was always busier than usual because of the jubileethat has brought even more Catholics to the city.
Still, a number of taxidrivers I spoke to today said they noticed a gradual but palpable influx ofpeople flocking into Rome since the Pope's death was announced.
This evening,the streets around the Vatican were very busy, and St Peter's Square wasbustling.
Up to 250,000 are expected to attend the Pope's funeral on Saturday.
Mourners pray together for second night in St Peter's Squarepublished at 18:51 British Summer Time 22 April
18:51 BST 22 April
Image source, ReutersImage source, ReutersImage source, EPAWorshippers gather in prayer in Vaticanpublished at 18:32 British Summer Time 22 April
18:32 BST 22 April
Image source, Getty ImagesMourners are gathered in St Peter's Square for a rosary prayer for Pope Francis, following a similar service yesterday evening.
We'll bring you the latest pictures from the Vatican shortly.
Can a woman be Pope?published at 18:09 British Summer Time 22 April
18:09 BST 22 April
The short answer is no.
Only Roman Catholic men who have been baptised can be considered for election to become Pope.
In theory, this could be any baptised man, but in practice, cardinals prefer to select one of their own.
In addition, only men can be ordained as a priest in the Catholic Church.
One argument is that Jesus’s twelve disciples were all men, therefore it should be men who lead the Church.
But arguments have also been put forward for both male and female ordination.
For example, in Christian teaching, men and women are made in the image of God, therefore both are equal before God and should thus be ordained equally.
A significant moment for Prince Williampublished at 17:56 British Summer Time 22 April
17:56 BST 22 April
Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondentImage source, PA MediaRepresenting King Charles at the funeral of Pope Francis will be one of the biggest international events that Prince William will have undertaken on his own so far.
It marks another step on to the global stage, after engagements such as his meeting with US President Trump in France last year.
He’ll be with Trump again in Rome, alongside figures such as President Macron of France and Chancellor Scholz of Germany.
Sending the Prince of Wales to this weekend’s funeral in the Vatican follows in the footsteps of his father, Charles, who as Prince of Wales, went to the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005.
The King and Queen have only recently returned from Italy, and the King, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, has publicly paid his respects to Pope Francis, describing his death as a “devastating loss” and praising his legacy of compassion.
On Tuesday, the King wore a black tie when he met the New Zealand PM in Windsor Castle – and flags were flown at half-mast on royal residences.
The King has been personally committed to building bridges between different faiths and the planned state visit to the Vatican, that was cancelled because of the Pope’s health, would have seen the King at an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel.
Prince William, who will one day be the head of the Church of England, is now heading to the Vatican for what will be an historic event.
Catch up on the latestpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 22 April
17:45 BST 22 April
Andrew Humphrey
Live page editorIf you're just joining us or need a quick summary, let's take a moment to bring you up to date.
- Prince William will join world leaders at Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday morning, on behalf of King Charles III
- Dozens have announced their intention to attend the funeral, including Donald Trump, Keir Starmer, Javier Milei, Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron
- In the hours since the pontiff's death was confirmed, our correspondents have been sharing snapshots of the reaction and tributes that have poured in from around the world
- In Rome, pilgrims and tourists have flocked to the Vatican to pay their respects to Pope Francis, congregating in St Peter's Square where his funeral will be held on Saturday
- Tomorrow morning, Pope Francis's body will be moved to St Peter's Basilica, where the public will be able to pay their respectsas he lies in state in an open coffin
- This evening, rosary prayers will be held in St Peter's Square to remember Francis, starting at 19:30 local time (18:30 BST, 17:30 GMT).
Stay with us as we continue to bring you coverage from Vatican City and around the world.
Image source, Reuters
