The Funeral Service for His Holiness Pope Francis took place on Saturday, April 26, 2024, in St. Peter’s Square, drawing attendance from numerous dignitaries, including presidents, prime ministers, cardinals, archbishops, and thousands of devoted followers.

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). departed for the Vatican to attend the funeral ceremony of Pope Francis. Accompanying His Holiness are the V. Rev. Fr. Hovagim Panjarjian and the V. Rev. Fr. Bsag Tepirjian.

April 24 is not only a day to honor our martyrs; it is also a time for national self-examination and recognition. It reminds the world of our people’s oppressed rights and calls for renewed efforts in our struggle to honor their sacrifices.

On April 26, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, participated in the funeral service of His Holiness Pope Francis at St. Peter Square at the Vatican.

On April 25, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, prayed for His Holiness Pope Francis at St. Peter Basilica in the Vatican.

On April 25, 2025, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, left Damascus International Airport, heading to Rome to participate in the funeral service of Pope Francis.

The mortal remains of Pope Francis have been transferred from the Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica, where his body will lie in state so the faithful may pay their respects until his funeral on Saturday.

By Devin Watkins

The Rite of Translation of the body of Pope Francis took place in the Vatican on Wednesday morning, led by the College of Cardinals gathered in Rome following his death.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, began the liturgical rite in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta with a brief prayer for the soul of Pope Francis.

We publish the preface that the late Pope Francis wrote on February 7 for the book in Italian by Cardinal Angelo Scola, Archbishop Emeritus of Milan, titled “Awaiting a New Beginning. Reflections on Old Age.” The volume, published by the Vatican Publishing House (LEV), will be available in bookstores starting Thursday, April 24.

By Pope Francis

I read with emotion these pages born from the thought and affection of Angelo Scola, dear brother in the episcopate and a person who has held delicate roles in the Church, such as having been rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, later Patriarch of Venice, and Archbishop of Milan.

Among the final words of the late His Holiness Pope Francis was a "thank you" to his personal healthcare assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti, for encouraging him to take one last ride in the popemobile on Sunday after the Urbi et Orbi. He rested in the afternoon, had a quiet dinner, and then at dawn suddenly fell ill and died.

By Salvatore Cernuzio

"Thank you for bringing me back to the Square."

This expression of gratitude was among Pope Francis’s last words to the person who watched over him tirelessly throughout his illness, as well as before.

Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell presides over the rite of the ascertainment of death and the placement of the late Pope Francis' body in the coffin, which took place on Monday evening in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta.

By Vatican News

At 8:00 PM on Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, presided over the rite of ascertainment of death and placement of the late Pope Francis’ body in the coffin.

On the evening of Pope Francis’ death, a rite confirmed his passing and the placing of his body in the coffin took place in the chapel of his Vatican residence.

Vatican News

The rite confirming the death and the placement of Pope Francis’s body in the coffin took place on the evening of Monday 21 April in the ground-floor chapel of the Casa Santa Marta.

The Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, releases the official medical report on the death of Pope Francis, which was confirmed through electrocardiographic thanatography.

By Vatican News

The cause of Pope Francis' death has been identified as a stroke, followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.

His Holiness Pope Francis' testament, dated 29 June 2022, has been published, giving indications for his burial in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

Miserando atque Eligendo
In the name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen.

As I sense the approaching twilight of my earthly life, and with firm hope in eternal life, I wish to set out my final wishes solely regarding the place of my burial.

Following the announcement his passing away on Easter Monday, we offer an overview of the highlights of Pope Francis' pontificate, his journeys, reforms, writings, work for peace and human fraternity, and outreach to the poor and migrants.

By Salvatore Cernuzio

Pope Francis became the first of many things. The first Jesuit pope, the first pope from Latin America, the first one to choose the name Francis, the first to be elected with his predecessor still alive, the first to live outside the Apostolic Palace, the first to visit lands never reached before by a pope – from Iraq to Corsica – the first to sign a Declaration on Human Fraternity with one of the highest religious authorities of the Muslim world.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of the ascertainment of death of Pope Francis and placement of his body in the coffin on Monday evening.

By Vatican News

The Holy See Press Office announced on Monday that the rite of ascertainment of death and placement of the late Pope Francis’ body in the coffin will take place on Monday at 8:00 PM Rome time.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark received today, Thursday, at the Papal Residence in Cairo, the priests and servants of the Jerusalem Association in Cairo, who presented to His Holiness the Holy Light — taken from the light that emerges from the tomb of the Lord Jesus on Holy Saturday (last Saturday). The light was sent by His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios, Metropolitan of Jerusalem, and the Near East, to bless the Coptic churches in Egypt.

II Sunday of Easter C

Jn 20:19-31

The Gospels of these first Sundays after Easter tell us about the encounters of the Risen Lord with his disciples: the Lord seeks them out, walks with them, eats with them, reveals Himself as the living Lord who has not abandoned his people, but continues to be present among his own.

These encounters always have two elements.

The first is that it is always the Risen Lord who takes the initiative and makes Himself known.

The Gospels tell us that during His ministry, Jesus often withdrew or went somewhere else and people came on his trail and looked for Him (cf. Mark 1:36-38). After Easter, the Lord can no longer be sought: It is He who seeks His disciples, and only when He seeks them can they meet Him.

Cairo, 21 April 2025

President of the Protestant Churches mourns His Holiness Pope Francis: The world bids farewell today to a true voice of love and global peace, and a living conscience in a time of challenges

The Protestant Churches of Egypt, under the presidency of Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki, mourn His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Vatican, who departed to heavenly glory today.

Armenian Evangelical World Council (AEWC)

April 24, 2025

On this solemn occasion, the Armenian Evangelical World Council commemorates the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide committed by Ottoman Turkey.

We bow our heads in reverence and profound respect before the memory of our martyrs—men, women, and children—whose lives were violently taken; whose homes and communities were devastated; whose churches, schools, and institutions of health and learning were destroyed; whose cultural heritage was looted; and whose ancestral homeland was desecrated. We remember not only the physical destruction inflicted upon our people, but also the incalculable spiritual, cultural, economic, and generational losses that continue to affect us to this day.