The Vatican announced on 21 April that Pope Francis had died at the age of 88. He had served in the position since his election in 2013.
“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with deep sadness that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” His Eminence Cardinal Farrell shared in a statement. “At 7:35 this morning (local time), Bishop Francis of Rome returned to the Father’s house. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faith, courage and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized.”
Farrell added: “With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend Pope Francis’ soul to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
In the coming days and weeks there will be a flurry of activity around Vatican City, first to lay to rest Pope Francis, who, according to the BBC, requested a less elaborate funeral service than his predecessors. He reportedly requested a simple wooden coffin and asked that the public viewing be accessible, without a raised platform, and instead that the lid of his coffin be removed for viewing. He would later be buried outside the Vatican in the Basilica of St. Mary the Great, marking the first time in more than a century that a pope would be buried elsewhere.
EF World Journeys said the Sistine Chapel will be “100% closed during the conclave”. EF, which offers group tours, is “preparing for this time given the Pontiff’s health in recent months,” a company spokesman said. Despite the historic nature of the Pope’s transition, the company expects little disruption to the itineraries.
“Rome is usually busy around Easter and we expect increased crowds in the coming days,” the spokesman said. “A national holiday is likely to be declared and we remain in close contact with our suppliers in Rome to monitor any further developments.”
Perillo Tours is in contact with local staff and partners to better understand the impact Francis’ death will have on the company’s operations, Perillo said. He said Vatican museums are expected to remain open during the conclave.
“While this is a unique moment, we are closely monitoring the situation and working with our local team to maintain scheduled services as much as possible,” Steve Perillo said.
Crowds expected at the Vatican
Travellers should prepare for significant crowds around St Peter’s Square, Via della Conciliazione and the centre of Rome. Access to the Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica and possibly the Colosseum and other nearby attractions could be affected for several days.
Pope Francis’ death comes during the Catholic Jubilee, a once-a-quarter-century tradition that marks a special time for spiritual renewal among Catholics. The theme for the 2025 Jubilee, which began on Christmas Day and will conclude on Epiphany on Jan. 6, 2026, is “Pilgrims of Hope.”
The Vatican said in a statement on Monday that it will postpone the April 27 Eucharistic celebration of the Jubilee of the Adolescents, an event for young Catholics.
About 60 million people visit Italy each year and the Jubilee is expected to attract 32 million visitors to Rome only, according to the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Italy. The death of Pope Francis will likely help increase the number of visitors who want to pay tribute to the deceased and also observe the traditions and ceremonies associated with the death of the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The last pope to die was Pope Benedict XVI, who died on 31 January 2022, but had retired from the papacy before his death. Pope John Paul II was the last to die while on the papal throne in 2005. His funeral drew some 4 million mourners to Rome and Vatican City. Instead of being buried in the Vatican caves beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis expressed his wish to be buried in the papal basilica of St. Mary the Great, a break with tradition.
Maria Jose Merino, vice president of business and product development at Central Holidays, said churches such as St. John’s Basilica in Laterano and St. Paul’s Basilica outside the walls will likely see increased crowds. Central Holidays has not made any changes to its itineraries at this time.
