Pope Francis has been laid to rest at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, near a revered icon of the Madonna that symbolized his devotion to humility and simplicity. Earlier, hundreds of thousands gathered at the Vatican to honor the late pope, who was beloved worldwide for his advocacy against war, capitalism, and climate change, as well as his efforts to uplift the poor and marginalized. Delegations from 164 countries attended the funeral, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, who met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before the requiem Mass. Also present were former President Joe Biden, Britain’s Prince William, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Francis’ funeral followed three days of public mourning, during which over 250,000 mourners paid their final respects as his body lay in state at St. Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican is expected to announce details regarding the upcoming conclave — the election of a new pope by the College of Cardinals — following the funeral ceremonies.
For comparison, the 2013 conclave began 11 days after Pope Benedict XVI’s abdication, with initial preparations starting just five days into the General Congregations. Since Benedict had announced his resignation 17 days before the *sede vacante* (the vacant seat), many cardinals had already arrived in Rome, and there was no funeral to plan. In contrast, the 2005 conclave to elect Benedict XVI began 16 days after the death of Pope John Paul II. Church law still mandates that a new conclave must commence within 20 days after a pope’s death, even if all cardinal electors have not yet arrived.
Source : https://www.nbcnews.com/
