Book preface addresses the theme of aging and death; In the work, Francisco says that “death is not the end of everything, but the beginning of something”
The Vatican released this 3rd (22.br.2025) an unprecedented text written on February 7 by Pope Francis, who (21.abr) at the age of 88, in which the pontiff addresses topics such as aging and death. Read A (PDF – 104 KB).
The stretch is part of the preface to the book “Waiting for a new beginning. Reflections on old age”written by Archbishop Emeritus of Milan, Cardinal Angelo Scola. The work will be published by the Vaticana Editora Bookstore and will begin to be sold on Thursday (24.abr).
In one of the tickets, Francisco – who suffered from breathing problems and died because of heart failure and stroke (stroke) – says the problem is not getting old but how to become old. “If we live this time of life as a grace, not with resentment, if we welcome the time (even long) when we experience reduced forces, the fatigue of the body that increases.”he wrote.
In the work, the Pope also praises the way the cardinal chose to address the themes and parallel between the death and the title of the book. “The very conclusion of these pages of Angelo Scola, which are an open heart confession about how he is preparing for the final meeting with Jesus, gives us a comforting certainty: death is not the end of everything, but the beginning of something. It is a new beginning, as the title wisely indicates ”says.
Pope’s burial
In a break with tradition, Pope Francis requested covered with zinc instead of the traditional set of 3 coffins. It will also be the 1st Pope over a century to be buried outside the Vatican. By the end of 2023, the pontiff stated that there was already “prepared” His tomb in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maior, in the Esquilino neighborhood of Rome (Italy).
These changes in funeral procedures reflect the reformist approach that characterized the pontificate of Francis, prioritizing simplicity and humility even in its final rites.
In this 3rd (22.abr), the Vatican that the funeral of Francis will be on Saturday (26.abr). At 10am places (5am in Brasilia) will be celebrated, in the atrium of the Basilica of St. Peter, the Mass of Exequias, which marks the 1st Day of Novedial (novenary), the 9 days of mourning and prayers in honor of the deceased pontiff.
At the end of the celebration, the rites of the last Recommendation and from AWielding “The solemn farewells.” Then, Francis’ coffin will be taken into the St. Peter’s Basilica and, from there, transferred to the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, where the burial ceremony will be held.
Read below how the funeral of a Pope is held and the details of what the funeral of Francisco will be:
Pope Francis’ death
The pontiff was in 700 years. Death: “At 7:35 am this morning [2h35 de Brasília], The bishop of Rome, Francisco, returned to the Father’s house. All his life was devoted to the service of the Lord and his church ”.
Francisco suffered from breathing problems. By 2023, he had spent 3 days hospitalized to treat bronchitis. In March 2024, he failed a speech during a Vatican ceremony.
Argentine born in the city of Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was 2025 at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital in Rome, Italy, to treat bronchitis, but tests revealed bilateral pneumonia.
On February 22, the Vatican said that Francisco faced one and had to undergo a blood transfusion and that he “It was not out of danger”. The tests performed showed plateletopenia (decreased number of platelets in the blood) associated with anemia, which led to the need for transfusion. The religious and was recovering. His last public appearance was on Sunday (20.abr) ,.
Or conclave
With the death of Francisco, the cardinals – from origin of origin in the Latin “cum clave”, which means “with key” – for the choice of 267º Dad. The ritual, which goes back to the 13th century, is held in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, where cardinals under 80 come together to elect the new leader of the Roman Apostolic Catholic Church. The amount of cardinals may vary as long as it does not exceed the limit of 120.
To be elected, a candidate needs to receive 2/3 of the votes. The result is transmitted to the audience present in the Vatican and the world through a smoke that comes out of a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. It is produced by burning voting banknotes with chemicals to give the desired color. THE black smoke It means that the Pope was not chosen and the vote will follow.
When a cardinal receives the necessary votes, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks if he accepts the position. If so, the elected chooses his papal name and the banknotes are burned with the chemicals that produce the white smokewhich will communicate to Choice of the new leader of the Roman Apostolic Catholic Church.
Read more about Pope Francis’ death:
