LIVE UPDATES: Pope Francis lies in state as Vatican announces Friday coffin sealing

Thousands of Catholics said their last goodbyes and paid their respects to Pope Francis on Wednesday as the late pope lay in state in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Long lines of mourners, many waiting more than four hours under the hot Roman sun, wound around St. Peter’s Square on the first day of viewing on April 23. Vatican officials indicated that they might need to extend the basilica’s hours past midnight to accommodate the large turnout.

As people slowly made their way to the basilica, some prayed the rosary, while others sang hymns. Once inside, people were able to spend a moment in prayer before the late pope’s open casket in front of the main altar and the tomb of St. Peter.

Clad in red vestments, a bishop’s miter on his head, and a rosary clasped in his hands, Francis was watched over in silence by four Swiss Guards standing vigil.

The public viewing in the basilica will continue for three days, concluding Friday at 7 p.m. when the casket will be sealed ahead of the funeral.

Visitors to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major) on Wednesday witnessed ongoing construction of the tomb of Pope Francis, who will be interred in the soaring basilica after his funeral on Saturday.

The Holy Father had specifically requested to be buried in the basilica due to his devotion to the Blessed Mother. The church was completed in 1743.

Francis will join seven other popes buried at Maria Maggiore. The Holy Father regularly visited the basilica to pray and did a brief pilgrimage there earlier this month, about nine days before his death.

Having cared for the aging Pope Francis as his personal nurse since 2022 Italian nurse Massimiliano Strappetti, I was among the few people who saw the Holy Father moments before his death on Easter Monday.

Before being appointed Pope Francis’ personal nurse in August 2022, Strappetti was the nursing coordinator for the Vatican’s health department. He started working in the Vatican in 2002 after having worked eight years in the intensive care unit of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

The pope’s last words and final greetings were reportedly addressed to Strappetti, the man he trusted to care for him throughout the multiple illnesses and health emergencies he endured in the last years of his life.

Pope Francis ordered that upon his death he would be buried in the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of St. Mary Major). This basilica was very dear to him. Francis, however, will not be the only pope to be buried outside of the Vatican City State.

In the history of the Catholic Church, there have been 266 popes, and only about 30 of them have been buried outside of Rome.

Who are the other popes not buried in the Vatican? Find out here.

As Catholics around the world mourn the passing of Pope Francis, a highly regulated process has now begun that will see the pope’s earthly body laid to rest and a conclave convened to elect his successor.

As of this moment, the chair of St. Peter is vacant — and you may have seen the phrases “sede vacante” and “interregnum” being used to describe the present period. Here’s a breakdown of what those phrases mean. 

“In view of the high turnout of faithful wishing to pay homage to the Holy Father, the possibility of extending the opening of the Vatican Basilica beyond the established time of midnight is not ruled out,” the Holy See Press Office announces Wednesday afternoon Rome time.

In anticipation of Pope Francis’ funeral Mass on Saturday, the city of Rome has installed jumbo-screens all along Via della Conciliazione, the main thoroughfare to the Vatican, and around the city center, to allow more people to participate in the liturgy.

The global event will be covered by press from around the world, hundreds of whom have descended on Rome to report on the historic moment in the Catholic Church. As St. Peter’s Square and the surrounding areas buzzed with pilgrims, tourists, and journalists on Wednesday, platforms for live broadcasts were being constructed in multiple locations close to St. Peter’s Basilica. The Holy See Press Office also announced on Wednesday that it had opened a second work station for media close to the Vatican, in addition to the main press office.

Now is the time to say farewell in person: Pope Francis will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica for the public to see, pray, and say goodbye until Friday evening, April 25.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell will close the coffin in preparation for the funeral Mass on Saturday.

The Vatican says that Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, will preside over the rite of closing Pope Francis’ coffin on Friday, April 25, at 8 p.m. Rome time (2 p.m. ET) in St. Peter’s Basilica.

According to a statement released by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of pontifical liturgical celebrations, this private ceremony follows the protocols established in the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (The Order of Funeral Rites for the Roman Pontiff).

The solemn rite takes place in the presence of various Church authorities as the late pontiff’s body is prepared for burial, which will occur after the funeral Mass on Saturday.

The transfer of Pope Francis’ coffin to St. Peter’s Basilica began at 9 a.m. local time today, April 23, following a prayer ceremony in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta.

The doors of St. Peter’s Basilica opened at 11 a.m. local time (5 a.m. ET) for the public, allowing more than 20,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square to pay their final respects to Pope Francis on Wednesday.

The late pontiff’s coffin rests before the altar on a modest wooden platform, placed almost at ground level.

Pilgrims are pausing to pray for a few moments before moving on, in a solemn procession that will continue until the pope’s burial at St. Mary Major Basilica following Saturday’s funeral Mass, which will be celebrated by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

The Vatican “sediari” — the same bearers who in past centuries carried the portable papal throne — transported the coffin on their shoulders to St. Peter’s Square, accompanied by cardinals currently present in Rome.

From Casa Santa Marta to the Vatican Basilica, the procession was marked by visible emotion among onlookers. Some could not hold back tears as they followed in respectful silence the final journey of the “pope of the peripheries.”

On Friday at 8 p.m. local time, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, in his role as camerlengo of Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of closing of the coffin of the Roman Pontiff Francis.

Thousands of faithful gather in St. Peter’s Square Tuesday evening to pray the rosary for the soul of Pope Francis, led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals.

Under the twilight sky, religious sisters, priests, and lay faithful from around the world unite in prayer for the late pontiff, who often concluded his public appearances with the simple request: “Please, don’t forget to pray for me.”

Before beginning the rosary, Re reminds those present that “death is not a door that closes but rather the entrance to the heavenly Jerusalem, where mourning is turned into dancing and the garment of grief into a robe of joy.”

The rosary, focused on the glorious mysteries, highlights the Church’s unity in grief and hope. “It is the entire flock of Christ, the Good Shepherd, that prays for Pope Francis,” Re says.

This communal prayer marks one of several public moments of mourning scheduled before Pope Francis’ funeral, which will take place on Saturday.

At the first general congregation of cardinals in Rome on Tuesday, the estimated 60 cardinals in attendance chose the date of Pope Francis’ funeral and suspended beatification celebrations.

The closed-door meeting to discuss the upcoming conclave and other issues pertaining to the interregnum took place at 9 a.m. local time the day after the death of the pontiff as cardinals hurried from around the world to the Eternal City.

As part of the interregnum period, the cardinals will meet frequently to make various decisions about the upcoming papal funeral and conclave.

With the death of Pope Francis on Monday, the Catholic Church has entered a mourning period, which will include nine days of Masses offered for the repose of his soul known as the “Novendiales.”

What happens during these nine days? CNA explains here.

Father Gabriel Romanelli, the pastor of Holy Family Parish in Gaza, summed up Pope Francis’ last call on Saturday night, April 19, moments before going to St. Peter’s Basilica to pray before the Easter Vigil.

“He told us he was praying for us, blessed us, and thanked us for our prayers on his behalf,” Romanelli said.

Over the past 19 months, the Holy Father has maintained constant contact with Gaza as it suffered the effects of the Israel-Hamas war.

Pope Francis greeted the faithful around the world for the last time from St. Peter’s Basilica on the most important day for Christians: Easter, the heart and foundation of the Catholic faith that proclaims Christ’s triumph over sin and death.

Read more about the final days of Pope Francis’ life.

Cardinal José Advíncula, OP, and Cardinal Pablo David — two of three cardinal electors appointed by Pope Francis — on Tuesday presided over requiem Masses in the Philippines and praised the late Holy Father for his humble service and love for the poor and wounded.

Advíncula and David are expected to travel to Rome to participate — alongside fellow Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect for the section of first evangelization of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization — in the upcoming conclave to elect the next leader of the universal Church.

It will be the first time in the Church’s history that three Filipino cardinals will participate in a papal conclave.

In the midst of the Easter season — a time Pope Francis long proclaimed as a message of hope — churches across the Middle East are bidding the pope farewell with liturgies and prayer, while Arab leaders are paying tribute to him with messages of respect and appreciation.

Read more here.

Across many homilies, audiences, and off-the-cuff reflections throughout his papacy, Pope Francis offered such grandfatherly advice on marriage, family, youth, the elderly, and other aspects of Catholic life — using signature turns of phrase.

Here are some highlights of other times he offered folksy advice to the faithful.

The Vatican on Tuesday released a previously unpublished text by Pope Francis following his passing on Monday containing the late pontiff’s reflections on aging and death.

“We must not be afraid of old age; we must not fear embracing becoming old, because life is life, and sugarcoating reality means betraying the truth of things,” wrote Francis in the preface to a book in Italian by Cardinal Angelo Scola, “Awaiting a New Beginning: Reflections on Old Age,” which will be available on Thursday.

Cardinal William Goh celebrated a memorial Mass for Pope Francis in Singapore on Tuesday, saying the late Holy Father had a “heart for everyone” and was dedicated to leading the Church toward a “new evangelization” through mercy and love.

After expressing the “real shock” the Church felt following the news of the pope’s death on Easter Monday, Goh said the Archdiocese of Singapore swiftly organized the Tuesday afternoon memorial Mass held in the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.

The start of a papal interregnum brings many terms that may not be familiar to many people, including many Catholics.

Here are some of the key words and phrases that will be used throughout the interregnum, especially the conclave to elect the new pope.

Throughout his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis gave many addresses, talks, and statements, and he penned numerous encyclicals and apostolic exhortations emphasizing themes of hope, mercy, compassion, and joy.

His words often focused on the dignity of the poor, migrants, refugees, and the elderly as well as the importance of marriage, family life, and care for the environment. Advocating for “synodality,” Francis also called for a Church that listens and walks together.

Here is a collection of quotes that reflect Pope Francis’ vision for a more compassionate and Christ-centered world.

In remembrance of the Pope Francis’ message urging the faithful to take action to protect the natural environment and to celebrate Earth Day, marked every year on April 22, here are 10 quotes from Pope Francis on creation and care for the environment.

Pope Francis visited the United States just once, nearly 10 years ago, in September 2015.

Despite the brevity of the visit, he accomplished a lot: Attracting hundreds of thousands of participants, he canonized a new saint (St. Junípero Serra), became the first pope to ever address a joint session of Congress, and galvanized the U.S. Catholic community with his presence and his speeches on the East Coast.

Here’s a look back at his visit.

Pope Francis’ last public act was a blessing of the entire world on Easter Sunday, delivered from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica — the same place where he was introduced as pope 12 years ago.

In the wake of his death, the Vatican released further details on Tuesday about the pope’s final hours.

The Vatican on Tuesday released the first photos of Pope Francis after his death, showing him dressed in red vestments and lying in a simple wooden coffin inside the chapel of the Santa Marta guesthouse.

The photos, taken on the evening of April 21 during the first step of the papal funeral rites, show the pontiff, who died earlier in the day at the age of 88, holding a rosary and wearing the papal miter and pallium.

Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will take place Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced Tuesday. 

The Mass will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals.

Thousands of Argentines gathered Monday evening in the Basilica of San José de Flores in Buenos Aires, where Pope Francis discovered his vocation, to pray for the soul of the beloved shepherd they always hoped to see again.

The Vatican on Monday evening hosted a praying of the rosary in St. Peter’s Square following the death of Pope Francis earlier in the day.

See the photo essay here.

Bishops and cardinals around the United States joined in prayer and mourning following the death of Pope Francis on Monday, recalling the pope’s legacy of service, prayer, and faith.

Following the death of Pope Francis, an Irish-American cardinal is playing a leading role in overseeing Vatican affairs until the election of a new pope.

Learn more about Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a key figure in the papal succession, and his responsibilities as the camerlengo.

Following Pope Francis’ death at age 88 on Easter Monday, the Vatican carried out the first stage in the papal funeral rites, called “the rite of the ascertainment of death and deposition in the coffin.”

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, presided over the rite in the chapel of Pope Francis’ Vatican residence, the Casa Santa Marta, just a little over 12 hours after the pontiff’s death, at 8 p.m. Rome time.

According to the Vatican, the rite took under one hour and the pontiff’s remains will stay overnight in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta.

The Holy See on Monday evening released the death certificate detailing the cause of death of Pope Francis, who died in his Vatican apartment at 7:35 a.m. in Rome on April 21, the day after Easter.

The Vatican also released the pope’s testament, which can be read in its entirety here.

World leaders from around the globe released statements of mourning and remembrance on Monday in response to the death of Pope Francis, who passed away Monday morning at age 88.

The Catholic Church has many historical customs and traditions related to the handling of a pope’s mortal remains between the time of his death and his burial.

Read more about them here.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Monday that he was “deeply saddened” by the passing of Pope Francis in Rome earlier in the day.

The prime minister “extended his heartfelt condolences on behalf of the government and people of Japan,” the minister’s office said in a press statement.

The pope “worked hard to protect the environment and promote peaceful diplomacy” during his pontificate, the prime minister said.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday hailed the late Pope Francis as a “transcendent voice for peace, human dignity, and social justice,” praising the departed pontiff for his work reaching out to “those left on the margins of life.”

The pope “was a man of faith for all faiths — working with people of all beliefs and backgrounds to light a path forward,” Guterres said in a press statement.

“Our divided and discordant world will be a much better place if we follow his example of unity and mutual understanding in our own actions,” the leader said.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday ordered U.S. government flags to be flown at half staff in honor of the late Pope Francis.

The president said in a Truth Social post that he made the order “as a mark of respect for the memory” of the departed pontiff.

Flags should be flown at half-staff at “all public buildings and grounds,” including embassies and consular offices, “until sunset on the day of [the pope’s] interment.”

The death of Pope Francis begins the so-called “sede vacante,” a period when the See of Peter lies vacant. The time of the sede vacante after the pope’s death brings with it a series of symbols, traditions, and protocols that have existed for centuries and express the papacy’s essence.

Read more about them here.

The Dalai Lama on Monday mourned the passing of Pope Francis, urging the world to take up the late pontiff’s example of service and generosity.

The Buddhist leader wrote to Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the apostolic nuncio to India, to “express his sadness on learning that His Holiness Pope Francis has passed away” earlier on Monday.

The pope “dedicated himself to the service of others, consistently revealing by his own actions how to live a simple, but meaningful, life,” the Dalai Lama said.

“The best tribute we can pay to him is to be a warmhearted person, serving others wherever and in whatever way we can.”

Winona-Rochester Bishop Robert Barron on Monday mourned Pope Francis’ passing, hailing the late pontiff as a “great pastor” who preached “mercy and evangelization” over the course of his pontificate.

Barron noted the pope’s characterization of the Church as “a field hospital to those wounded by our postmodern, relativistic society.”

“Pope Francis had a keen awareness of the destructiveness of sin, and he encouraged the Church to show the world the merciful face of Christ,” the bishop wrote on X.

“On the occasions when he and I spoke, his comments would burn their way into my heart and mind,” he said.

Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher on Monday said Pope Francis’ death during Easter is a “very special” sign of grace during the holy season.

Speaking to press at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney on Monday, Fisher recalled Pope John Paul II’s death in 2005 around the Easter season. “[John Paul II’s] long suffering was a great sign to us of dignity in suffering and in old age,” Fisher said.

“[A]nd I think that Pope Francis has given similar witness that he persevered through his old age and sickness, kept trying to serve God and serve people to the end,” the prelate added.

“And for him to die at Easter is very special because, as he said himself yesterday, this is when we Christians celebrate eternal life,” the archbishop said.

Argentinian President Javier Milei on Monday said it was a “true honor” to have known Pope Francis, who was born in Argentina and who served as the first pope from the Americas.

“Despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his kindness and wisdom was a true honor for me,” Milei said in a post on X.

“As president, as an Argentine, and, fundamentally, as a man of faith, I bid farewell to the Holy Father and stand with all of us who are today dealing with this sad news,” he wrote.

The European bishops on Monday mourned the passing of Pope Francis by hailing his “desire to bring the joy of the Gospel to the men and women of our time.”

“With profound gratitude and emotion, we remember our Holy Father Francis, who tirelessly led the Church with courage and strength through years marked by multiple crises all over the world,” Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno Bishop Mariano Crociata wrote for the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union on Monday.

“Pope Francis was truly one of the great witnesses of our times, beloved and respected even by nonbelievers, and whose first concern was always directed toward the most fragile members of God’s creation,” Crociata wrote. “His voice spoke to hearts with simplicity and depth, through concrete gestures of love, listening, and closeness.”

“In this jubilee year — one of the Holy Father’s final great efforts — we are grateful to the pope for his constant attention to Europe, always urging us to make it better by strengthening its vocation for peace,” the bishop wrote.

The Eiffel Tower’s lights will remain unlit on Monday evening in memory of Pope Francis after the pontiff’s death earlier in the day.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo made the announcement on Monday afternoon, praising the pope as “a man of peace and compassion.”

The mayor also said that at some point a location in Paris will be designated with Francis’ name in honor of the Holy Father.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday asked God to “bless [Pope Francis] and all who loved him” after the Holy Father passed away on Monday morning.

“Rest in Peace Pope Francis!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Vice President JD Vance had earlier issued a statement mourning the pontiff’s passing. “My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,” the vice president said on a post on X.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday after the death of Pope Francis that the late pontiff “inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate.”

Expressing condolences to “all who feel this profound loss,” von der Leyen wrote: “May they find solace in the idea that Pope Francis’ legacy will continue to guide us all toward a more just, peaceful, and compassionate world.”

Francis and von der Leyen met several times over the course of his pontificate.

EWTN Chairman of the Board and CEO Michael Warsaw on Monday mourned the passing of Pope Francis, calling the pontiff’s death at 88 on Monday a “moment of personal grief for Catholics around the world.”

“Together with our entire EWTN family, I mourn his passing and join the Church in prayers for the repose of his soul,” Warsaw said in a statement.

Warsaw said he was “privileged to be able to meet Pope Francis a number of times throughout the years” and was “always struck by his kindness and good humor in our encounters.”

Leaders of the German government on Monday mourned Pope Francis’ death, hailing him as an “advocate for the weak” and a “sign of hope.”

“With the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church and the world lose an advocate for the weak, a reconciling and a warmhearted person,” outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on X.

“I greatly appreciated his clear view of the challenges we face,” he said.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, meanwhile, said in a letter to College of Cardinals dean Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re that both Catholic and Protestant Germans “mourn with me for an important pope.”

The world lost “a shining sign of hope, a credible advocate of humanity, and a convincing Christian,” Steinmeier wrote.

“His modesty, his spontaneity, and his humor, but above all his noticeably deep faith, have touched people all over the world — and given them support, strength, and guidance.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that Pope Francis will “always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility, and spiritual courage.”

Modi said on X on Monday morning that he was “deeply pained” by the pope’s passing earlier in the day.

“From a young age, he devoted himself towards realizing the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope,” Modi wrote.

The pope’s “affection for the people of India will always be cherished,” he said.

Britain’s King Charles III on Monday said the Royal Family was “deeply saddened” to learn of Pope Francis’ passing early on Monday morning.

“His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church, and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others,” Charles said.

“His belief that care for creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world,” the king noted.

Charles noted that he and Queen Camilla were able to meet with Pope Francis earlier this month.

“We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve,” the king said.

Pope Francis “knew the appeal and the impact of the papacy in all corners of the globe,” Auckland Bishop Steve Lowe said on Monday at the news of the Holy Father’s passing, hailing the pope for his global outreach over the course of his pontificate.

“While he didn’t set foot on our shores, we know the deep love that Pope Francis had for the Catholic faithful scattered across the world,” Lowe, the president of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said in a Monday morning statement.

“The Holy Father reminded us of the importance of walking together as the entire people of God — laypeople, religious women and men, and clergy — following the path of Jesus,” he said.

Lowe urges Christians around the world to “join us in lifting up our departed brother in prayer.”

Multiple Italian soccer matches have been postponed after Pope Francis died on Monday.

The National Professional League Serie A announced that seven different matches would be delayed “to a later date” after the death of the Holy Father.

Several football clubs publicly mourned the pope’s passing on Monday morning.

“His faith, humility, courage, and dedication touched the hearts of millions, making him a moral compass of our time and beyond,” the Roma club said on X.

The canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first millennial set to become a saint in the Catholic Church, will be delayed following the death of Pope Francis, the Vatican said Monday.

Acutis’ canonization Mass was set to take place on Sunday, April 27, during the Church’s Jubilee of Teenagers.

The Holy See Press Office said on Monday the canonization had been suspended after the pope’s death earlier in the day. The press office did not give a new date for the Mass.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said he and his wife, Brigitte, “send our thoughts to all Catholics and to the grieving world” after the news of Pope Francis’ death.

“From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest,” the president said. “May it unite people with each other and with nature. May this hope continually revive beyond him.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Monday reflected on Pope Francis’ pontificate, saying that she and the Holy Father had “a more active relationship” than was publicly seen, one that went “well beyond our respective institutional roles.”

“We’ve met many times, even just to exchange opinions. He was able to give comfort in very difficult moments, I have many memories of the pope,” she told the Italian government broadcaster RAI.

“We say goodbye to the Holy Father with a heart full of sadness,” the prime minister’s office said in an official statement.

The White House on Monday responded to the news of Pope Francis’ death with a brief tweet on X on Monday morning.

“Rest in peace, Pope Francis,” the White House said, including two pictures of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance meeting the pontiff.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Monday, meanwhile, mourned Pope Francis’ passing, reflecting briefly on his meeting with the pontiff just hours before his death.

“My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,” the vice president said on a post on X.

“I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill,” Vance said, referring to his meeting with the pope the day before on Easter Sunday.

Vance said he would “always remember” the pope’s homily delivered on March 27, 2020, amid the start of the COVID-19 crisis. “It was really quite beautiful,” the vice president said.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) mourned the death of Pope Francis on Monday, hailing him for “his outreach to those on the margins of the Church and of society” during his historic pontificate.

USCCB President Archbishop Timothy Broglio said in a Monday morning statement that Francis “was marked by his experience as a Jesuit and a shepherd in Buenos Aires.”

“The passage from this life of the bishop of Rome calls us to pray for his eternal rest and to continue on our path to a deeper union with the Lord Jesus,” Broglio wrote.

“We remember his leadership in inspiring nations, organizations, and individuals to a renewed commitment to care for each other and our common home.”

The U.S. bishops “unite in prayer with Catholics here and around the world and all people of goodwill in gratitude for the life of our revered shepherd.”