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President Donald Trump this week said he is "very" optimistic that Ukraine and Russia will enter into some sort of deal in the coming days, but security experts are still sounding the alarm that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want peace. 

A feeling of geopolitical whiplash is surrounding Washington after the Trump administration last week said it would abandon peace efforts if a ceasefire cannot be secured, though days later Trump said there is a "very good chance" a deal will be reached this week.

The White House did not respond to Fox News Digital’s questions about what it would mean should the U.S. walk away from one of Trump’s top campaign trail issues: ending the war in Ukraine. 

TRUMP HOPEFUL RUSSIA AND UKRAINE CAN MAKE A DEAL AFTER TEMPORARY EASTER CEASEFIRE ENDS

The administration also has not clarified if Washington would take retaliatory measures against Putin, as Trump threatened to do last month.

"Simply because Trump hasn’t announced any consequences yet does not mean that he doesn’t plan on taking some anti-Russia measures," former DIA intelligence officer and Russia expert Rebekah Koffler told Fox News Digital. "Trump almost certainly intends for his economic warfare against China to serve as an example to Putin how far Trump is willing to go to compel his adversaries to his will."

"But unlike the China case, there’s no similar dependence between the U.S. and Russia. Trump’s decision on Russia is much more complicated, more risky and requires more thought," she added. "He may or may not take draconian economic steps against Russia, as Putin may take devastating, non-kinetic actions against the U.S. 

"It’s Trump’s risk tolerance vs. Putin’s now," Koffler said. "And both like to win and both have risk tolerance way above average."

The White House did not respond to questions by Fox News Digital on whether the U.S. would still aid Ukraine in some capacity, particularly given recent restrictions on military aid Trump has implemented on Kyiv, like refusing to sell Patriot missiles previously used to defend civilian populations from Russian strikes and that cost $1.5 billion a piece.

"If we want to be a global superpower, and we want to deter aggression, not with U.S. troops on the ground, but in general, to deter aggression because it is good for our national security, then we should continue to support Ukraine," former CIA Moscow Station Chief Dan Hoffman told Fox News Digital. "It's a tiny percentage of the Department of Defense budget."

TRUMP SAYS US WILL 'TAKE A PASS' ON UKRAINE PEACE EFFORTS IF RUSSIA REFUSES TO PLAY BALL

"The return on investment is pretty high," he added, referring to the $66.5 billion in military assistance Washington has provided Kyiv since Russia’s February 2022 invasion, compared to the $841.4 billion defense budget congressionally approved for 2024 alone, a figure which Trump has pushed to increase.

A Ukrainian delegation was set to meet with Trump administration officials in London on Wednesday alongside other European partners, including representatives from the U.K., France and Germany.

Special envoy Steve Witkoff is reportedly set to return to Moscow this week to continue negotiations with Russian officials, though the Kremlin has not indicated they are anywhere near agreeing to ceasefire terms, let alone a peace deal.

A spokesperson for Putin, Dmitry Peskov, on Tuesday reportedly said the issue of Russia’s invasion was too "complex" to achieve a quick fix and warned against rushing into a deal.

"It is not worth setting any rigid time frames and trying to get a settlement, a viable settlement, in a short time frame," he said.

The Kremlin’s position has given credence to repeated warnings from security experts that Putin is not interested in securing a peace deal with Ukraine. 

"There's no indication that Putin wants to stop the war," Hoffman said. "That isn't surprising. Because for a war to end, somebody has to win or both sides have to be so tired they can't continue to fight. 

"Russia is the invader, so you have to stop them in order to have an end of the war," he added. "The one consistent thing here is Putin is continuing to fight. His objective is to overthrow the government in Ukraine. He’s going to keep fighting until he feels like he has accomplished that goal or he can't fight anymore."

Koffler echoed Hoffman’s position: "Putin will be pursuing the same strategy regardless of Trump’s actions; that is continuing the war of attrition until Ukraine capitulates or is completely destroyed and the government collapses."

"Putin would like to string Trump along and will continue to try doing so," she added.

A report by the Moscow Times on Tuesday cited sources close to Putin and said the Kremlin chief is looking to reorder the global "spheres of influence" by negotiating leverage points between the U.S. and adversaries like Iran and North Korea. 

The article claimed that Putin would attempt to get Trump to either force a less-than-desirable deal for Ukraine or potentially stop the U.S. from aiding Kyiv by proposing personally enticing deals, like allowing Trump to build a hotel in Moscow, and geopolitical wins, like securing a nuclear agreement with Iran and a "peace deal" in Ukraine.

Fox News Digital could not verify the report’s claims, but Koffler agreed it could be a strategy that Putin is looking to employ as the U.S. pushes deals across Europe and the Middle East. 

"He could promise Trump not to share certain sensitive technologies to these two [nations]," Koffler said. "And he could convince Iran not to operationalize and weaponize its nuclear program in exchange for Trump’s promise not to target Iran’s nuclear facilities in a kinetic strike and to lift sanctions from Russia. 

"The important aspect of all of this is to give these adversaries face-saving opportunities, which is not a strong point for the U.S. style of diplomacy," Koffler said. "But Putin’s ability to convince Trump and Trump’s decision calculus are two different things."

Catholic cardinals performed the ritual ceremony on Wednesday to transfer Pope Francis’ body from his home in the Vatican hotel to St. Peter’s Basilica to offer three days of public viewing before his funeral.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is running the Vatican administration until Francis' successor is elected, presided over the ceremony in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where Francis lived.

A choir sang as cardinals wearing their red cassocks and capes stood in prayer.

Francis' casket was escorted by a procession of solemn cardinals and Swiss Guards through the same piazza where he greeted the faithful from his popemobile just days before in what would be his final goodbye.

POPE FRANCIS TO LIE IN STATE, MOURNERS WELCOME: WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE PONTIFF'S FUNERAL

Pallbearers carried the simple wooden coffin on their shoulders through the Vatican's archway gates and out into St. Peter's Square and into the basilica. The cardinals and the Swiss Guards processed slowly behind.

Ordinary faithful filled St. Peter’s Square to watch the procession enter the basilica.

Heads of state are expected for the funeral Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, but the three days of public viewing are largely for ordinary Catholics to pay their respects to the pontiff.

The basilica is being kept open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday. The public mourning period will end on Friday at 7 p.m., when Francis' casket will be closed and sealed.

The funeral has been set for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square. Leaders from around the world, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy and Argentine President Javier Milei, will attend the funeral for the pope, who was born in Argentina.

FIRST PHOTOS RELEASED OF POPE FRANCIS IN HIS CASKET; FUNERAL SET FOR SATURDAY

Inside the basilica, Francis' casket will not be put on an elevated bier like with past popes. Instead, it will just be placed on the main altar of the 16th-century basilica, simply facing the pews.

Cardinals continue to meet this week to plan the conclave to elect the next pope and make other decisions about running the Catholic Church.

Francis died Monday morning at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke that landed him in a coma and resulted in his heart failure. His death marked the end of his 12-year papacy as the 266th pope and spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

The pope, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed when he was younger, spent 38 days in Rome's Gemelli hospital starting on Feb. 14 to treat a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia.

He was still recovering when he made his last public appearance on Sunday, delivering an Easter blessing and what would be his final greeting to followers from his popemobile. The pope also met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Easter Sunday at the Casa Santa Marta.

In his final will, Francis confirmed he would be buried at St. Mary Major basilica, which is located outside the Vatican and home to his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For his final journey, Pope Francis, dressed in red vestments and a traditional white cassock, will be carried to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore outside the Vatican on Saturday, where he will be laid to rest.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio to Regina Maria Sivori and Mario Jose Francisco in Argentina, died on Monday, April 21, 2025, of a stroke and cardiac arrest, according to the Vatican.

In the early morning of Easter Monday, Pope Francis suffered a stroke, followed by a coma. The former head of the Catholic Church then went into irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse and died at 88 years old, according to the Vatican.

POPE FRANCIS REVEALED BURIAL WISHES JUST DAYS AFTER BECOMING POPE IN 2013

His final public appearance was on Easter Sunday, when he provided blessings to crowds of faithful at St. Peter's Square.

On Feb. 14, 2025, Pope Francis was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he received a medical diagnosis of double pneumonia and remained hospitalized for 38 days.

On Tuesday morning, around 60 Catholic cardinals held their first meeting since Pope Francis’s death, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. local time in Rome.

The meeting began with a prayer for the deceased pontiff. The high-ranking priests swore to obey the rules of the funeral plans that Pope Francis made last year. Finally, Bergoglio’s final will and testament were read.

THEOLOGIAN ON ‘CONCLAVE’ ACCURACY, EXPECTATIONS FOR NEXT SECRETIVE EVENT AFTER POPE FRANCIS' DEATH

He requested that the tomb read only "Franciscus," with no mention of his 12-year papacy, a unique shift from the burial places of past popes.

On Monday in Rome, a rosary service was held for Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti.

Beginning Wednesday at 9 a.m. local time (03:00 ET) and continuing until the funeral, Pope Francis’s body will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, where mourners can pay their respects.

The procession of Pope Francis’s body will pass through Santa Marta Square, the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs and the Arch of the Bells into St. Peter’s Square before entering the Vatican Basilica.

Mourners are welcome to pay their respects at St. Peter’s Basilica in the following days and times:

POPE FRANCIS EMPHASIZED CATHOLICISM GLOBALLY, REACHED BEYOND US, EUROPE INTO IMPOVERISHED NATIONS

On Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 10 a.m. local time, Pope Francis’s life will be celebrated during a Mass presided over by His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals.

Bishops, priests, cardinals, archbishops and patriarchs from around the world will officiate the service.

The events will conclude with the beginning of the Novemdiales, a symbolic and procedural period of nine days of prayer, mourning and remembrance.

Another funeral Mass will be held on Sunday by Italian Cardinal and Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.

Pope Francis will be taken to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial.

FIRST PHOTOS RELEASED OF POPE FRANCIS IN HIS CASKET; FUNERAL SET FOR SATURDAY

The 266th pontiff revealed his burial wishes just days after being elected in 2013.

"It was his belief that he may not live very long," Neomi DeAnda, a trained constructive theologian, told Fox News Digital. "He was already in his 70s when he was elected pope, and he wanted to be prepared when God called him home."

"In the Name of the Holy Trinity. Amen.

"Feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching and with lively hope in the Eternal Life, I wish to express my testamentary will only with regard to the place of my Burial.

"I have always entrusted my life and the priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Mary Most Holy. Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest waiting for the day of the resurrection in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

TRUMP WILL ATTEND POPE FRANCIS' FUNERAL IN ROME DESPITE CONTENTIOUS PAST: 'LOOK FORWARD TO BEING THERE!'

"I want my last earthly journey to end in this ancient sanctuary Mariano where I went for prayer at the beginning and end of each Apostolic Journey to confidently entrust my intentions to the Immaculate Mother and thank Her for the docile and maternal care.

"I ask that my tomb be prepared in the hole of the aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica as Indicated in the attached annex.

"The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decorum and with the only inscription: Franciscus.

"The expenses for the preparation of my burial will be covered with the sum of the benefactor who I have arranged, to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and of which I have provided to give appropriate instructions to Mons. Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Chapter Liberian.

"May the Lord give the well-deserved reward to those who have loved me and will continue to pray for me. The suffering that was made in the last part of my life I offered to the Lord for peace in the world and brotherhood among peoples."

President Donald Trump extended his "deepest sympathies" on Tuesday after gunmen reportedly killed at least 20 people in India's Kashmir region. 

"Deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir," Trump wrote on TRUTH Social. "The United States stands strong with India against Terrorism. We pray for the souls of those lost, and for the recovery of the injured. Prime Minister Modi, and the incredible people of India, have our full support and deepest sympathies. Our hearts are with you all!" 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump had been briefed by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz on the matter. 

Trump will speak with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "as soon as he possibly can to express his heartfelt condolences for those lost," Leavitt said at Tuesday's White House briefing. "And our prayers are with those injured in our nation's support for our ally, India. These types of horrific events by terrorists are why those of us who work for peace and stability in the world continue our mission. So we'll give you a readout of that call later this afternoon." 

JD VANCE CHAMPIONS 'ROADMAP' TOWARD US-INDIA TRADE DEAL, SAYS PARTNERSHIP CRITICAL TO DETERRING 'DARK TIME'

Leavitt said the press may hear from Trump directly later Tuesday afternoon. 

The shooting coincided with Vice President JD Vance and his family's visit to India. 

Vance met with Modi on Monday and delivered a speech on strengthening the economic partnership between their two nations in the northwestern Indian city of Jaipur earlier Tuesday. 

"Usha and I extend our condolences to the victims of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India," the vice president wrote on X after the attack. "Over the past few days, we have been overcome with the beauty of this country and its people. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn this horrific attack." 

Indian police said gunmen shot dead at least 20 tourists at a resort in Indian-controlled Kashmir in what appeared to be a major shift in the regional conflict in which tourists have largely been spared.

Modi said he strongly condemned "the terror attack" in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and offered condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. 

"I pray that the injured recover at the earliest," Modi wrote on X. "All possible assistance is being provided to those affected. Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice...they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger." 

VANCE WAS ONE OF POPE FRANCIS' LAST VISITORS

The country's police also described the incident as a "terror attack" and blamed militants fighting against Indian rule. 

"This attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years," Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, wrote on social media.

Two senior police officers said at least four gunmen, whom they described as militants, fired at dozens of tourists from close range, according to the Associated Press. The officers said at least three dozen others were injured, many in serious condition.

Most of the tourists killed were Indian, the officers reportedly told the AP on condition of anonymity, in keeping with departmental policy. 

Officials collected at least 20 bodies in Baisaran meadow, some three miles from the disputed region’s resort town of Pahalgam. 

The meadow in Pahalgam is a popular destination, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and dotted with pine forests. It is visited by hundreds of tourists every day as Kashmir, known for Himalayan foothills and exquisitely decorated houseboats, has become a major domestic tourist destination. It has drawn millions of visitors who enjoy a strange peace kept by ubiquitous security checkpoints, armored vehicles and patrolling soldiers.

Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Police and soldiers were searching for the attackers.

"We will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences," India’s home minister, Amit Shah, wrote on social media. He arrived in Srinagar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, and convened a meeting with top security officials. He said Modi, on an official visit in Saudi Arabia, has been briefed.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a key resistance politician and Kashmir’s top religious cleric, condemned what he described as a "cowardly attack on tourists," writing on social media that "such violence is unacceptable and against the ethos of Kashmir which welcomes visitors with love and warmth."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Pope Francis’ last words before his death on Monday were an expression of thanks to his personal nurse and caregiver, Massimiliano Strappetti, the Vatican revealed Tuesday while describing the 88-year-old pontiff’s final hours.

Francis hesitated to surprise a throng of 50,000 faithful who amassed in St. Peter’s Square with a ride in the popemobile following his Easter blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican News reported, with the pontiff asking Strappetti, "Do you think I can manage it?" 

Once Francis was reassured, he took his tour of the square, stopping to embrace people, especially children, on his route.

Among Francis’ last words was a heartfelt message to Strappetti.

POPE FRANCIS DEAD AT 88, VATICAN SAYS

"Thank you for bringing me back to the Square," Francis, widely known as "the People’s Pope," told his personal health care assistant, Vatican News reported.

Francis rested the rest of Sunday afternoon and had a quiet dinner, according to the official Vatican news agency.

Francis showed the first signs of illness around 5:30 a.m. on Easter Monday and fell into a coma an hour later, according to Vatican News. Before falling into the coma, Francis made "a gesture of farewell with his hand" to Strappetti.

POPE FRANCIS' OFFICIAL CAUSE OF DEATH REVEALED IN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM VATICAN

Francis died after going into a coma and suffering a heart attack.

Those at his side during his final moments said Francis did not suffer, and his death happened quickly, Vatican News reported.

The Pope’s death follows years of ongoing health concerns, including a recent hospitalization for double pneumonia.

The Vatican released images of Francis lying in state at the Vatican on Tuesday. The Pope was pictured lying in a wooden casket wearing red vestments and his bishop’s miter.

Francis’ funeral has been set for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, and a viewing of his body will begin on Wednesday in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Iran has carried out 1,051 state executions since President Masoud Pezeshkian took office on July 8, 2024 – a surge that security experts say the U.S. must weigh as it resumes nuclear negotiations with Tehran.

The figure, reported to Fox News Digital by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), represents a more than 20% increase from the number of Iranians killed in 2023, which saw 853 Iranians executed by the regime. 

In his race for the presidency, Pezeshkian aligned himself with moderates and reformists angry with the regime following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini and the subsequent protests.

US CONFIRMS THIRD ROUND OF NUCLEAR TALKS WITH IRAN AFTER ‘VERY GOOD PROGRESS’

In a 2024 televised debate just days before he won the election in a record-low turnout, he reportedly said, "We are losing our backing in the society, because of our behavior, high prices, our treatment of girls and because we censor the internet."

"People are discontent with us because of our behavior," he added, prompting hope that Pezeshkian – who has also expressed a willingness to engage with the U.S. in nuclear negotiations – might bring some reform Iranians had long pushed for from the oppressive regime. 

But executions targeting those arrested for drug-related offenses, dissents and those involved in the 2022 protests have only increased – including the increased killings of women and those who were minors at the time of their alleged offense.

"Such levels of savagery and brutality reflect the deadly deadlock in which the ruling religious fascism in Iran is trapped," the NCRI said in a statement on Monday. "[Supreme Leader of Iran Ali] Khamenei is desperately trying to prevent a nationwide uprising and the inevitable overthrow of his regime through executions and killings."

Amnesty International reported earlier this month that girls as young as 9 years old can be sentenced to execution, while for boys it starts at age 15. 

IRAN SENTENCES 2 FEMALE JOURNALISTS WHO COVERED MAHSA AMINI'S DEATH ON CHARGES OF COLLABORATING WITH THE US

"At least 73 young offenders were executed between 2005 and 2015. And the authorities show no sign of stopping this horrific practice," the organization added, noting that the U.N. reports there are at least 160 people facing death row for crimes they committed while under the age of 18, though it also notes that that number is likely a low representation of the actual figures. 

The human rights atrocities come as the U.S. is looking to secure a nuclear deal with Tehran, and officials are calling on the international community to consider Iran’s record of abuse in its negotiations with the regime.

Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the NCRI, has "urged the international community to condition any dealings with the regime on the cessation of torture and executions, refer Iran’s human rights violations file to the U.N. Security Council, and, as requested by the U.N. special rapporteur in the July 2024 report, bring Ali Khamenei and other regime leaders to justice for crimes against humanity and genocide."

IRAN EXECUTES OVER 1K PRISONERS IN 2024, HIGHEST TOTAL IN 30 YEARS, REPORT SAYS

"After suffering irreparable setbacks in the region and facing the growing threat of an uprising and overthrow, the regime has brutally accelerated executions and massacres," she said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

She has also called on the Iranian people, "especially the youth," to protest the executions by joining the "No to Execution" movement.

However, students across Iran face a real threat in opposing the regime, as Pezeshkian and Iran’s minister of education, Alireza Kazemi, have reportedly dispatched State Security Forces to tamp down on what Khamenei has deemed "cultural infiltration, the enemy’s lifestyle, and hostile temptations" targeting Iran’s youth. 

A Russian court reportedly slashed the sentence of an American who has been held overseas following a drug trafficking conviction. 

The sentence of Robert Woodland was reduced from 12.5 years to 9.5 years on Tuesday, his attorney, Stanislav Kshevitsky, told Reuters. 

It’s unclear why Woodland’s sentence was shortened. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. 

Woodland was found guilty last July of attempting to sell drugs after he was arrested and found to be in possession of 50 grams of mephedrone, Reuters reported, citing prosecutors. 

RUSSIAN-AMERICAN BALLERINA KSENIA KARELINA HAS MESSAGE FOR TRUMP AFTER RELEASE FROM RUSSIA 

Woodland, born in Russia in 1991, was adopted by American parents at the age of 2. He returned to Russia at the age of 26 in order to meet his birth mother, he claimed. 

At the time of Woodland's arrest in January 2024, the U.S. State Department stated it "has no greater priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas."

Kshevitsky said Woodland has partially admitted guilt, according to Reuters. 

AMERICAN MARC FOGEL RELEASED FROM RUSSIAN CUSTODY 

Woodland remains held in Russia despite a number of recent prisoner releases during the Trump administration. 

Russian-American ballerina Ksenia Karelina, who was wrongfully detained in Russia for more than a year, was released earlier this month as part of a prisoner swap.

Karelina was sentenced to 12 years in a Russian penal colony after pleading guilty to treason for donating $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity in early 2024. 

In February, Trump brought American history teacher Marc Fogel, who had been detained in Russia since 2021, back to the U.S. 

Fox News’ Jasmine Baehr, Elizabeth Pritchett and Alex Hogan contributed to this report. 

There have been 266 papal leaders of the Catholic Church since Jesus Christ’s death in the AD 30s through Pope Francis – Jorge Mario Bergoglio – who died on Easter Monday at 88.

The most prominent pope is considered to be St. Peter, the first holder of the title.

Christ had appointed him the inaugural Bishop of Rome, and the papal church – St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City – is named in his honor.

St. Peter’s writings to persecuted people in the Asia Minor region are also chronicled in the New Testament’s epistles.

ITALIAN PM MELONI VISITS POPE FRANCIS

Peter reportedly died around 64 and was succeeded by Pope Linus.

In the present day, there is wide agreement across the Catholic world that one of the most recent popes, John Paul II, deserves to be in consideration as the most influential pontiff.

John Paul II was also the first non-Italian pope since Pope Adrian in the 1500s. Born Karol Wojtyla in Poland, John Paul’s lengthy three decades in the Vatican were marked with very prominent situations for the Catholic Church.

John Paul II oversaw the movement into the digital age, but he continued to be a prolific writer.

He revised the Canon Laws for the church, wrote more than a dozen encyclicals, apostolic exhortations, nearly 50 apostolic letters and several books, as chronicled by Father William Saunders in his cataloging of "great" popes.

While Pope John Paul II has not officially been dubbed John Paul the Great, there is wide consensus that one day he will be.

MORE ABOUT POPE FRANCIS' MEDICAL CONDITION

John Paul notably held a Mass praying for God’s forgiveness for the past sins of the Catholic Church itself and made more than 100 state visits, which included engaging with non-Christians, Saunders wrote in Catholic Answers.

One of those visits featured the pope offering Mass to 80,000 people at Yankees Stadium in The Bronx, New York in 1979.

Only a few popes – Leo I, Gregory I and Nicholas I – have been given the moniker "the great."

In the 400s, Pope Leo met with Attila the Hun and prevented a siege of Rome, though the Vandals took it over later.

Pope Gregory I was the Catholic leader who in the late 500s stylized "Gregorian Chant" – a tradition still present in many Catholic churches today.

Born wealthy, Gregory I later gave up his riches and moved into a monastery and aided the poor.

FLASHBACK: POPE JOHN PAUL II ELECTED

Gregory was considered the treasurer of Rome, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, which chronicles his efforts to prevent sieges from groups like the Lombards.

He also repaired Roman infrastructure, sought détente with the Lombards and Gauls and enforced government laws he personally disagreed with and protested against – explaining that he did his duty to obey [Emperor Maurice] while not "restrain[ing] what ought to be said on God’s behalf."

Pope Nicholas became pontiff in the mid 800s. He notably urged against the attempt by a king to divorce his wife and marry another woman. He also believed the Holy See was the head of the Catholic Church and urged the "supremacy of Rome," according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Other popes may not have been monikered "the great" but have had lasting impact on the world and society.

One such pontiff was Pope Gregory XIII. 

Purported miscalculations in the Julian calendar spurred Gregory XIII to decree a new calendar in 1582 – as the spring equinox had fallen back to early March over a span of 1,400 years.

On Oct. 4, 1582, Gregory XIII ordered the next day be considered Oct. 15, not Oct. 5 – therefore fixing the lunar discrepancy. By the end of the 16th century, most Western lands had come around to following the new "Gregorian calendar."

Another historically influential pontiff was Pope Innocent III. Around 1200, Innocent III launched several "Crusades" against Muslim-held lands in what is now France, Spain and Portugal, as well as an effort to take back the historic Holy Land near today’s Israel and Jordan.

He also extended his power into personal affairs, ordering King Philip of France to return to his separated wife.

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The most recent pope, Francis, was considered influential in that he was one of few to delve more into the political sphere than past pontiffs.

In 2015, Francis published the first papal encyclical to be focused on the environment: Laudato Si.

Among its repercussions, it helped foreshadow that year's U.N. Climate Change Conference in Paris, which led to a global warming treaty between 196 countries, according to Vatican News.

He was also known for his critiques on Western market capitalism, once calling the "unfettered pursuit of money" the "dung of the devil" during a speech.

Over the course of his 12 years as pontiff, Pope Francis’ papacy has been both highly regarded as influential and scrutinized as modernized and anti-traditional.

Leaving behind a legacy of expansion, Pope Francis ministered to shape the Catholic Church’s future and scale its reach beyond areas of focus in both the U.S. and Europe.

"If you think about how he has approached appointing cardinals," Tim Gabrielli, associate professor and Gudorf chair in Catholic intellectual traditions at the University of Dayton in Ohio, told Fox News Digital. "He's been very intentional about that."

POPE FRANCIS REVEALED BURIAL WISHES JUST DAYS AFTER BECOMING POPE IN 2013

Pope Francis created cardinals from 24 nations that had never had one before.

"He was calling attention to places that are overlooked," Gabrielli said. "He was saying, ‘The church is here, too, and the church here has a voice. The church here should be paid attention to."

"I think it’s been very significant," he added.

Gabrielli asserts that Pope Francis was playing "a long time" with the Catholic Church by expanding its own broader geographical reach.

"The church is growing most rapidly in Africa, and we don't think about that as much in the Northern Hemisphere," he said. "Resources for the future of the church are in those places."

THEOLOGIAN ON ‘CONCLAVE’ ACCURACY, EXPECTATIONS FOR NEXT SECRETIVE EVENT AFTER POPE FRANCIS' DEATH

In 2017, Pope Francis convened a Synodal Assembly, a gathering of bishops, to discuss the Amazon region and climate change, which was a focus during his sovereignty.

"It strikes me as Pope Francis saying, ‘Hey, this region that is largely seen as a suppository of resources, whatever we can exploit from this great lush region, well, there’s a church operating there. There are people living there who we don’t pay much attention to,’" Gabrielli said.

"That is in tune with his emphasis on economic exploitation," he added.

Gabrielli believes Pope Francis’ first words after his election spoke to his broader mission as pontiff.

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"Brothers and sisters, good evening," Pope Francis said in his address to Rome on March 13, 2013. "You know that the charge of the conclave was to give a bishop of Rome. It would seem that my brothers went to the end of the world to choose him."

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was the first pope in history from the Global South, hailing from Argentina.

Gabrielli said his remarks, coupled with the meticulous expansion of cardinals, reflect Pope Francis’ vision of the church in every place.

"The church in the U.S. has had a strange way of thinking of itself as something kind of exceptional," Gabrielli said.

Highlighting a new focus on regions often considered "flyover countries," Gabrielli said Catholics and non-Catholics will see Pope Francis’ impact through his successor.

"This push to internationalize the cardinal or to visit places the pope wouldn’t normally visit is planting seeds there that over time will lead to a deeper sense of the international church," Gabrielli said.

The first pictures of Pope Francis' body since his death were released on Tuesday, and his funeral has been scheduled for Saturday morning.

The images showed Francis lying in a wooden casket wearing red vestments and his bishop’s miter, as the Vatican Secretary of State is seen praying over him in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived.

Cardinals met for the first time on Tuesday in the Vatican's synod hall to establish the next steps before a conclave begins to select the next pope. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square.

It will be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, and ordinary faithful may begin paying their final respects starting Wednesday, when his casket is brought into St. Peter's Basilica.

TRUMP WILL ATTEND POPE FRANCIS' FUNERAL IN ROME DESPITE CONTENTIOUS PAST: 'LOOK FORWARD TO BEING THERE!'

U.S. President Donald Trump said he and first lady Melania Trump plan to attend the funeral. Argentine President Javier Milei is also expected to attend the funeral of the pontiff, who was born in Argentina.

Francis died Monday morning at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke that landed him in a coma and resulted in his heart failure. His death marked the end of his 12-year papacy as the 266th pope and spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

The pope, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed when he was younger, spent 38 days in Rome's Gemelli hospital starting on Feb. 14 to treat a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia.

He was still recovering when he made his last public appearance on Sunday, delivering an Easter blessing and what would be his final greeting to followers from his popemobile. The pope also met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Easter Sunday at the Casa Santa Marta.

Francis' Easter appearance was made in the same loggia where he was introduced to the world as the first pope of the Americas on March 13, 2013.

"He gave himself to the end," Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the head of the Italian bishops' conference and a possible contender to be next pope, said. "To go out to meet everyone, speak to everyone, teach us to speak to everyone, to bless everyone."

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING SHINES IN GOLD, WHITE IN MEMORY OF POPE FRANCIS AFTER PONTIFF'S DEATH

In his final will, Francis confirmed he would be buried at St. Mary Major basilica, which is located outside the Vatican and home to his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary.

Francis stopped by the basilica on his way home from the Gemelli hospital on March 23, after the longest hospitalization of his papacy, to deliver flowers to be placed before the icon. He returned on April 12 to pray before the Madonna for the last time.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

One of the most controversial aspects of Pope Francis’ legacy as the leader of the Catholic Church is his decision to restrict an older form of the Catholic liturgy known as the Traditional Latin Mass.

Francis explained that he decided to restrict the Latin Mass because he was concerned its use was leading to division in the Church. Francis said he felt the more ancient mass was "being used in an ideological way" in reaction to modernity, including the more modern Vatican II mass.

The mass — from the Latin word "missa," which means "sacrifice" — consists of the "Liturgy of the Word" and "Liturgy of the Eucharist," the latter of which is considered the most sacred and highest form of worship by Catholics. 

The Latin Mass, which was formalized by Pope St. Pius V in 1570 and continues to be practiced by some Catholics today, has several key differences from the more common Vatican II mass, which was instituted in 1969. These differences include the entirety of the mass being said in Latin and the priest facing "ad orientem" ("to the east") rather than facing the congregation.

BELLS TOLL AT VATICAN TO MARK POPE FRANCIS' DEATH 

During his 12-year pontificate, Francis took several actions to limit the use of the Latin Mass throughout the world. The result was that the Latin Mass was relegated to a very limited number of churches, with it often only being offered by priests belonging to specific orders expressly devoted to it.

In 2021, Francis issued a set of instructions, called a "motu proprio," in which he placed sweeping restrictions on the Latin Mass, including requiring priests wanting to say the mass to seek express approval from their local bishops. In 2023, Francis issued additional restrictions on the Latin Mass, requiring bishops to obtain express approval from the Vatican to allow it to be said in their jurisdictions and barring newly ordained priests from saying it.

The instructions diverged from the policy of Francis’ predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who had allowed all priests to say the Latin Mass.

In a conversation with Jesuits in 2023, Francis explained that he felt his predecessor’s allowances "were being used in an ideological way, to go backward."

VANCE WAS ONE OF POPE FRANCIS' LAST VISITORS

"The danger today is indietrismo, the reaction against the modern. It is a nostalgic disease," he said. "This is why I decided that now the permission to celebrate according to the Roman Missal of 1962 [the Latin Mass] is mandatory for all newly consecrated priests."

Francis said the restriction was "necessary to stop this indietrismo, which was not in the pastoral vision of my predecessors."

Despite this, Francis clarified that specific orders of priests, such as the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), were not impacted by the restrictions.

After a 2024 meeting between Francis and Father Andrzej Komorowski, the head of FSSP, the order released a communique in which it said "in the course of the audience, the pope made it clear that institutes such as the Fraternity of St. Peter are not affected by the general provisions of the motu proprio … since the use of the ancient liturgical books was at the origin of their existence and is provided for in their constitutions."

Vatican officials have shared the will left behind by Pope Francis, which details his burial request, hours after the pontiff passed away from a cerebral stroke that led to heart failure.

"Feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching and with lively hope in the Eternal Life, I wish to express my testamentary will only with regard to the place of my Burial," the document begins.

Written in June 2022, the will details the pope's burial preferences, which differ from pontiffs from the past few centuries.

"I have always entrusted my life and the priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Mary Most Holy. Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest waiting for the day of the resurrection in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore," the document continues.

FAITH LEADERS REFLECT ON POPE FRANCIS' DEATH, PAPACY AND LASTING LEGACY: 'MADE HIS MARK'

Francis said that he wanted his "last earthly journey to end in this ancient sanctuary."

The will also asks for Francis to be buried in the earth, "without particular decorum and with the only inscription: Franciscus."

"I ask that my tomb be prepared in the hole of the aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica as Indicated in the attached annex," it reads. 

He also stated that burial expenses should be covered with the sum of the benefactor whom Francis arranged with.

POPE FRANCIS’ DEATH AFTER RESPIRATORY ILLNESS: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BILATERAL PNEUMONIA

"I have arranged, to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and of which I have provided to give Appropriate instructions to Mons. Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Chapter Liberian," his will reads. 

"May the Lord give the well-deserved reward to those who have loved me and will continue to pray For me. The suffering that was made in the last part of my life I offered to the Lord For peace in the world and brotherhood among peoples," it ended. 

Francis, 88, died Monday morning at the Vatican. Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, the head of the Vatican’s health department, said that the stroke put him into a coma and led to irreversible heart failure, according to an afternoon update from Vatican officials.

POPE FRANCIS REVEALED BURIAL WISHES JUST DAYS AFTER BECOMING POPE IN 2013

"I certify that His Holiness Francesco (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) born in Buenos Aires (Argentina) on December 17, 1936, Resident in Vatican City, Vatican Citizen, died at 7.35 am on April 21, 2025, in his apartment at the Domus Santa Marta (Vatican City) of: Brain stroke, coma, and irreversible cardiocollaspe," the report read.

Arcangeli added that Francis also suffered from episodes of "respiratory insufficiency," as well as his recent bilateral pneumonia. Officials said the pope also suffered from type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Francis, who had battled pneumonia for weeks before being released from the hospital, faced health complications for many years and had half of one of his lungs removed when he was young. 

He was elected to the papacy on March 13, 2013, and was the first Jesuit to become pope.

The pope's last public appearance was on Easter Sunday at St. Peter's Square.

Fox News' Thomas Ferraro, Alec Schemmel, and Andrea Margolis contributed to this report. 

The U.S. and Iran have agreed to meet for a third round of talks later this week in Muscat, Oman, after they met in Italy with Omani intermediaries to discuss Iran’s nuclear program on Saturday.

Details of the negotiations have not been released and any concrete progress in ending Iran’s nuclear program remains unclear, though a senior administration official told Fox News that "very good progress" had been made.

"Today, in Rome, over four hours in our second round of talks, we made very good progress in our direct and indirect discussions," the official said Saturday. "We agreed to meet again next week and are grateful to our Omani partners for facilitating these talks and to our Italian partners for hosting us today."

TRUMP SAYS IRAN MUST DITCH ‘CONCEPT OF A NUCLEAR WEAPON’ AHEAD OF MORE TALKS

Reports suggested that Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at some point in the negotiations spoke face-to-face, the second time in as many weeks.

But the negotiations have not solely been "direct" between Washington and Tehran as President Donald Trump earlier this month insisted they would be, which Iran flatly rejected – suggesting some form of compromise was reached regarding the format of the discussions.

What Witkoff discussed directly with his Iranian counterpart remains unknown.

Araghchi also expressed some optimism in his review of the negotiations from Italy, though his perspective appeared slightly more muted.

"Relatively positive atmosphere in Rome has enabled progress on principles and objectives of a possible deal," he wrote in a post on X. "We made clear how many in Iran believe that the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] JCPOA is no longer good enough for us. To them, what is left from that deal are ‘lessons learned.' Personally, I tend to agree." 

COL. RICHARD KEMP DOUBTS TRUMP NEGOTIATIONS WITH IRAN WILL ‘ACHIEVE WHAT NEEDS TO BE ACHIEVED’

"The initiation of expert level track will begin in coming days with a view to hammer out details," Araghchi said. "After that, we will be in a better position to judge. For now, optimism may be warranted but only with a great deal of caution."

It remains unclear how this round of negotiations to end Iran’s nuclear program will differ from the original JPCOA, an Obama-era nuclear deal which Trump abandoned during his first term, though the president and other security experts have voiced a sense of urgency in finding a solution in the very near future. 

But according to retired Gen. Jack Keane, a Fox News senior strategic analyst, many security experts are watching these negotiation attempts with "real concern" because "Iran in 2025 is not the Iran in 2015 when that first nuclear deal was made."

"The difference is that Iran has the capability to manufacture advanced centrifuges which can enrich uranium from zero to weapons grade in just a matter of weeks," Keane said.

Essentially, this means the U.S. must not only persuade Iran to get rid of its near-weapons-grade enriched uranium – enough to produce five nuclear weapons if further enriched – but also dismantle its manufacturing capabilities.

"The other thing that is different in 2025 – they have ballistic missiles that can deliver the weapon," Keane added. "It remains to be seen what’s going to be in the deal."

Though controversial, one of the least contentious 2025 Oscar-nominated films was "Conclave," an Edward Berger-directed mystery thriller starring Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini and Stanley Tucci, which brings to life the political and religious traditions regarding how Catholic cardinals elect a new pope.

The conclave will gather again in actuality as the Vatican revealed that Pope Francis, 88, the leader of the Catholic Church, passed on April 21, 2025, the day after Easter Sunday.

Though released in October 2024, "Conclave" struck a deep chord with viewers as Pope Francis’ declining health was made known to the public in February 2025. Pope Francis battled bilateral pneumonia in the months before his death.

POPE FRANCIS REVEALED BURIAL WISHES JUST DAYS AFTER BECOMING POPE IN 2013

The film closely follows the novel of the same name written by author Robert Harris.

"That was fairly accurate," Dennis Doyle, professor emeritus at the University of Dayton in Ohio, told Fox News Digital.

Doyle taught at the Catholic research university for 40 years.

"There were just a few differences, like some of the Latin wasn't exact, the carpet was red in the movie and its beige in real life," Doyle said. "The seating arrangements were done very dramatically in the movie. They're not exactly that way in real life. And even the way the voting was done was not exactly the same."

WHO COULD BE THE NEXT POPE?

Despite the creative liberties, Doyle felt the film was "done very accurately."

"I was surprised at how well it was done and how they were able to present the characters in a way that every character in a certain sense was sympathetic," Doyle told Fox News Digital.

In preparation for the film, Doyle read the book twice.

"In the book, the character was transgender but didn’t go through with the operation," Doyle said. "In the movie, the character was intersex, somebody who was born both ways, but still who didn't go through with the operation."

Some Catholics took to social media at the time the film was released to regard it as "anti-Catholic" and "dishonest".

WHAT IS THE PAPAL CONCLAVE: INSIDE THE ANCIENT PROCESS OF CHOOSING THE NEXT POPE

"I thought that everything in the movie was very realistic until the very end," Doyle said. "I thought that, on a literal level, it really wasn't very realistic. I don't think that would happen, that somebody that was intersex would get elected pope. But symbolically, I thought the ending was very interesting."

"I could see that the ending could be a turnoff for some Catholics," he added.

Doyle said that, while "kind of far-fetched," the film spoke to the question of the role of women in the church and whether the Catholic Church can become equal to men and women.

"In the film, all of the people serving the cardinals are sisters," Doyle said. "They're all nuns and in real life, in that building, there's simply a staff that works in that building, and they would be the people who would put out the meals and who would change the beds and that kind of thing."

PHOTO GALLERY: POPE FRANCIS THROUGH THE YEARS

The deeper issue, Doyle said, is that the film portrays men in leadership roles and women as servants.

"The conversation about transgender is relatively recent [in the church]," Doyle said. "I really think that the conversation is more in the United States and Europe than it is in the Catholic Church globally or even necessarily in Rome."

The Vatican released a declaration, Vatican's Dignitas Infinita, in 2024 where Pope Francis condemned gender theory. The document asserted that attempts to alter an individual's immutable gender are ultimately misguided attempts to play God.

"You could watch this whole movie and until the last two minutes it's not an issue in the film. It doesn't really come up. There’s a couple of foreshadowings of what the conclusion is going to be, but the movie is not about that," Doyle said.

Following Pope Francis' death, Doyle believes the newly released film will generate interest in the Catholic Church. 

"It may make people more aware that there is a lot of politicking that goes on and that is an interesting theme in the movie and in the book," he said. "I don't think it will really have any impact on how people think about the church other than to maybe in general, it makes the ideal of the conclave interesting."

"Conclave" was nominated for a slew of 2025 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor, and won for Best Adapted Screenplay.

U.S. President Donald Trump and various other world leaders issued comments responding to the news that Pope Francis passed away on Monday.

"Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!" Trump declared in a post on Truth Social.

Vice President JD Vance, who had just met with the pontiff on Easter Sunday, noted that he was happy to see the pope, who was clearly quite ill.

"I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID," Vance said in a post on X, along with a link to the homily. "It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul." 

The White House X account issued a post that read, "Rest in Peace, Pope Francis."

WHO COULD BE THE NEXT POPE?

The UK's King Charles III said that he and his wife were very sad to hear about the pope's death.

"My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry," the king said in his message.

"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. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many.

"The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ."

POPE FRANCIS DEAD AT 88 YEARS OLD

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer extended condolences on behalf of his country.

"Deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis. His tireless efforts to promote a world that is fairer for all will leave a lasting legacy. On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom, I share my sincerest condolences to the whole Catholic Church," Starmer noted in a post on X.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also weighed in.

"Today, the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis. He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate. My thoughts are with all who feel this profound loss. 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," she said in a post on X.

PHOTO GALLERY: POPE FRANCIS THROUGH THE YEARS

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Narenda Modi, prime minister of India, posted on X: "Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope.

"I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God’s embrace," Modi added.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also offered condolences, both in a post on X, and while speaking at an event alongside U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Monday.

 "I send my deepest condolences to the Christian world and especially the Christian communities in Israel - the Holy Land - on the loss of their great spiritual father, His Holiness Pope Francis. A man of deep faith and boundless compassion, he dedicated his life to uplifting the poor and calling for peace in a troubled world. He rightly saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue as a path toward greater understanding and mutual respect," Herzog declared in the post.

"I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered. May his memory continue to inspire acts of kindness, unity, and hope."

French President Emmanuel Macron declared in a tweet, "From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. To unite people with one another and with nature. May this hope be reborn endlessly beyond him. To all Catholics, to a grieving world, my wife and I send our thoughts."

Fox News' Tim Santhouse contributed to this report

Just a few days after becoming pope, Pope Francis revealed his burial wishes upon his death.

In March 2013, Pope Francis was elected during a conclave by the Cardinals of the Catholic Church following Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to step down amid health concerns.

"It was his belief that he may not live very long," Neomi DeAnda, a trained constructive theologian, told Fox News Digital. "He was already in his 70s when he was elected pope, and he wanted to be prepared when God called him home."

WHO COULD BE THE NEXT POPE?

DeAnda holds a Ph.D. in theology from Loyola University in Chicago, a master's in theology from the Oblate School of Theology and a master's in theology from St. Mary's University in Texas. She is an expert in Latin American studies and on Mary in Latin America.

"He did not know how much longer he would live, and since he was chosen pope at an older age, he definitely did not expect to have such a long papacy," DeAnda said. "He wanted to have his wishes available in case God called him home."

Pope Francis selected the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore as his final resting place.

"It has some significance for his grandparents," DeAnda told Fox News Digital. "His grandparents were the ones who immigrated to Argentina with his dad and, I believe that they lived close to and visited that Basilica."

WHAT IS THE PAPAL CONCLAVE: INSIDE THE ANCIENT PROCESS OF CHOOSING THE NEXT POPE

On March 13, 2013, Pope Francis appeared for the first time in public as pope at the Basilica.

"That has been his favorite place to visit," DeAnda said. "It's a place that he goes to every time that he is going on a trip. He goes there to pray before he goes on a trip."

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, was the first pope from the American continents.

His family escaped facism in Italy and fled to Argentina, according to his autobiography.

"There is a great story about how they were trying to board a certain boat, a certain ship for their immigrant travels, and they did not make that ship because they were not able to sell all their goods," DeAnda said of Pope Francis’ dad and grandparents. "That ship is called the SS Principessa Mafalda."

DeAnda added that the ship meant to carry Pope Francis’ family capsized.

"It’s possible that his grandparents would have died on that ship," DeAnda said. "They made it on that ship, and then we get Francis and his 10 siblings because of that."

The Vatican revealed that Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, the day after Easter Sunday.

After a pope dies, the Catholic Church chooses its next leader through an ancient electoral process called the "papal conclave."

In practice, since at least 1276, the conclave gathers the church’s top bishops – called the College of Cardinals – from around the globe. Though there are more than 240 cardinals currently, only those under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the conclave and the number of cardinal electors is limited to 120.  

Nearly all prefects of Vatican offices lose their jobs when a pope dies, but a few stay on, including the foreign minister and the master of liturgical ceremonies, who play a key role in assembling the conclave.

The conclave takes place in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel and cardinals are kept in strict isolation to keep them far from any outside influence from the rest of the world. This isolation is so important in the process that even the name conclave comes from the Latin "con clavis," which means "with key," indicating how the cardinal electors are locked up while they deliberate over who will be the new pope.

POPE FRANCIS DEAD AT 88, VATICAN SAYS

There is also an emphasis on choosing a pope quickly to lessen the amount of time the church spends without a leader. The cardinals cast their first vote the day the conclave begins. They then cast votes at least twice every day after – in the morning and evening – until a pope is selected.

The common practice in the modern Catholic Church is for the cardinals to choose a pope from among their own ranks, though this was not always the case.

CARDINAL TIMOTHY DOLAN ON SOMBER MOMENT OF CLOSING CATHOLIC SCHOOLS: ‘I TEAR UP’

Conclaves will typically begin with a special Mass celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica, in which the cardinals invoke the Holy Spirit for guidance.

Cardinals vote for the pope through a secret ballot. At each vote, a cardinal will write his choice on a piece of paper, process up to Michaelangelo’s giant fresco of the last judgment – which serves as a reminder of the gravity and sacredness of their responsibility – and drop his ballot in a chalice.

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A two-thirds majority of votes is needed to select a new pope. More than two-thirds of the eligible cardinal electors were appointed by Pope Francis. However, these cardinals hold a diverse set of viewpoints and come from all different parts of the world.

After each vote, the ballots are burned and the ashes are used to send a signal to the rest of the world about whether a decision has been made. Black smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel means there has not been a consensus, while white smoke means a pope has been chosen.

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Once a cardinal receives a two-thirds majority of the votes, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks him if he is willing to accept the position. If he accepts, he must then choose his papal name. Cardinal Jose Mario Bergoglio chose the name "Pope Francis," becoming the first pope to choose this name.

After the world is alerted through the burning of white smoke, the new pope is announced with the most senior cardinal proclaiming "Habemus papam!" – "We have a pope" – after which the newly elected pontiff processes out and imparts his first blessing to the city of Rome and the rest of the world.

The funeral for Pope Francis will include many long-held traditions, but will also eschew some of the more intricate customs after the pope amended the Catholic Church's papal funeral rights.  

Francis died Monday at age 88, the Vatican announced.

While much of the tradition associated with papal funerals – which dates all the way back to ancient Rome – will continue, matters such as Francis' coffin structure, his death verification process, burial location, and how he will be viewed and referred to during the ceremony, will be different from how it has been in the past.

Francis, who had battled pneumonia for weeks before being released from the hospital and appearing on Easter Sunday, had faced health complications for many years and had to have half of one of his lungs removed as a young person. 

POPE FRANCIS' MEDICAL CONDITION: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BILATERAL PNEUMONIA

Francis' move to change these papal funeral traditions, some of which date all the way back to ancient Rome, stemmed from a desire to emphasize that the pope is "that of a shepherd and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful man of this world," according to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the head of papal liturgical ceremonies who reportedly worked with Francis to help make the revisions. The rewrite was also preceded by the unusual circumstances of Pope Benedict XVI's funeral, which deviated from traditional papal funerals on account of the fact he was a retired pope rather than a reigning one.

The new funeral rites were formally approved by Francis in 2023 and were later published in the church's liturgical guidelines in early 2024. Around the same time he was working on these revisions, the pope revealed during an interview with a Spanish-language broadcaster that he would not be buried in the grottoes of the Vatican like his predecessors, but rather at Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome. The new papal rights make it permissible for future popes to be buried outside the Vatican as well. 

POPE FRANCIS DEAD AT 88, VATICAN SAYS

In addition to the different burial location, the new papal funeral rites have amended the way the pope will be viewed by the public following his death. In the past, the pope's body would be displayed on an elevated frame known as a bier. But, under the new funeral structure, the pope will be laid directly into an open coffin, eliminating the use of the bier. Pope Francis also eliminated the practice of being buried in three coffins made of cypress, lead and oak.

The location of where Francis would be declared deceased changed too. It went from taking place in the papal bedroom to now inside the papal chapel located at the Vatican. The new rules also require that Pope Francis' remains be immediately put into a simplistic wooden-lined coffin after he is determined to have passed.

Confirming the death of the Pope is the job of the camerlengo, a senior clergy member who manages the Vatican during transition periods between Popes. That position is currently occupied by Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who said Monday, "With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God."

POPE BENEDICT'S VISION OF CATHOLICISM, VATICAN II, AND THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH ENDURE THROUGH HIS TEACHINGS

Another notable change includes how the pope will be referenced during the ceremony following his death. Rather than being referenced by past titles he has obtained as a clergy leader in the Catholic Church, officials will mostly use Latin terms for "pope," "bishop," or "pastor."

Archbishop Ravelli said during a 2024 presentation of the revised papal funeral rights that a new edition was reflective of Francis' view, stated on several occasions Ravelli said, "of the need to simplify and adapt certain rites so that the celebration of the funeral of the Bishop of Rome may better express the faith of the Church in the Risen Christ."

Before the new edition of the papal rites was formally passed, the church followed the guidelines in the "Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis" approved in 1998 by Saint John Paul II and published two years later, according to The National Catholic Register. 

Those guidelines were used for Pope John Paul II's 2005 funeral, but was modified to meet the unusual circumstances of Pope Benedict XVI's passing.

Pope Francis, 88, the oldest pope in over a century, died Monday morning, though quiet discussions on who could succeed him have reportedly already begun. 

While any male Catholic could in theory be chosen to sit in the papal seat, historically, succeeding popes have been selected from the Sacred College of Cardinals since 1378, according to Religion News Service.

Currently, there are 252 cardinals in the body who have been selected by the Holy Father to serve as his advisors and assistants. 

Here is a look at some of the most likely forerunners to serve as the 267th pope, according to public reporting.

POPE FRANCIS DEAD AT 88, VATICAN SAYS

Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, is the highest-ranking diplomat in the Holy See – which is the governing body of the Catholic Church – and is believed to be among the cardinals most likely to be elected to the top position.

His favor among cardinals in the Sacred College, who will vote on the next pope, is due to his politically moderate position and his career in diplomacy, reported The New York Post.

Parolin, who spent part of his career in Mexico and Nicaragua, was appointed by Pope Francis in 2014 and would likely be seen as an extension of the current papacy. 

POPE FRANCIS’ MEDICAL CONDITION: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BILATERAL PNEUMONIA

Tagle is also believed to be a frontrunner among voting cardinals and serves as the pro-prefect for the section of first evangelization of the Dicastery for Evangelization, as well as president of the Interdicasterial Commission for Consecrated Religious.

He has been dubbed the "Asian Pope Francis" particularly for their similarities when it comes to their more embracing position of the LGBTQI community than their predecessors. 

In a 2015 interview, Tagle said the Church’s "severe" position on the LGBTQI community, divorcees and single mothers was doing it harm. 

According to the Catholic Herald, Tagle "would be hailed by liberals, given the changing demographic of the Church."

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There are several conservative cardinals who are believed to be top contenders for the papacy, including Cardinal Peter Erdo, who has been critical of Francis’ position on divorce and immigration.

Erdo has argued that divorced or re-married Catholics should not be allowed to receive Holy Communion due to his position regarding the "indissolubility of marriage."

The Catholic Herald pointed out that appointing a conservative pope following Francis’ tenure would "send a powerful message about the direction the Church would be taking."

Erdo has also differed from Francis greatly on immigration and argued in 2015 that permitting refugees to resettle is tantamount to human trafficking.

Another conservative cardinal thought to be a serious contender is Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu from the war-torn nation of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Membership of the Catholic Church in Africa is growing faster than anywhere else in the world, according to the Associated Press.

The 65-year-old Ambongo controversially rejected Pope Francis' blessing of same-sex couples by the Catholic Church. In a letter signed by other African priests, they said they refused to follow the pontiff’s declaration because such unions are "contrary to the will of God."

The Wisconsin native and former archbishop of St. Louis is considered to be the leading American candidate. The 76-year-old cardinal is also viewed as being from the conservative side of the Church. 

He is a proponent of the Latin Mass, and has been critical of Pope Francis regarding the Church’s new language around artificial contraception, LGBT issues and civil marriages. Burke was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

Zuppi was born in Rome. He is the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference and is viewed as an insider in Francis’ Vatican, having served as the archbishop of Bologna.

The 69-year-old Zuppi is seen as being one of Pope Francis' favorites. He was sent on a peace mission in 2023 to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He was also sent to meet with President Joe Biden that same year. 

Zuppi was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019.

Of the 252 cardinals in the Sacred College, only 138 are under the age of 80 and therefore are permitted to participate in the conclave, the papal election process – though there are no age limitations for the candidate who would serve as the future pope. 

Following the death of a pope, the conclave then holds a vote, and will continue to vote, until a pope is chosen by a two-thirds majority. 

At that time, the ballots will be burned with a chemical that produces white smoke, as opposed to black smoke, to alert the world that a new pope has been chosen. 

JOHANNESBURG: The next Pope could, and some analysts say should, come from Africa. Christianity is booming here. More people are becoming Catholics on the continent than anywhere else in the world, and millions of Africans proudly stay true to their faith despite persecution and death.

"As in previous years, increases (in the number of Catholics) were registered above all in Africa," the Vatican said in October 2024, stating that 7,271,000 Africans joined the faith last year.

In 2023, the National Catholic Register reported "Home to fewer than 1 million Catholics in 1910, the Catholic population of Africa is now 265 million."

Fox News Digital understands there are three leading African papabile – "pope-able" candidates - Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, 65, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, 76, from Ghana, and Guinea’s Cardinal Robert Sarah, who is viewed as an outsider due his being 80-years-old.

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"Is it time? Certainly, it is an appropriate time for the leader of the Catholic Church to come from Africa for reasons that would capture the world’s imagination," Greg Tobin, author of the novels "Conclave" and "Council," and the biography of "Pope John XXIII, the Good Pope," told Fox News Digital. 

He added, "The Church has been growing at an amazingly rapid rate over the past few decades in the face of government opposition in many African nations, overt persecution of Christians and Catholics in many of the same nations, and violent opposition. Further, the leaders who have been appointed bishops and raised up as cardinals are generally highly educated, often in the West."

Theologian and executive coach Jonathan Morris was also positive about the idea of a new Pope coming from Africa, telling Fox News Digital, "An African candidate for pope is not only interesting from the perspective of representation of the fastest-growing region of the Church, but also because an African candidate could bring together divergent ideological groups of cardinals."

Morris, a Fox News contributor, added, "The African Church is, as a whole, more conservative than the European and American Church. But wouldn’t these Europeans and Americans love to be part of making history!" 

While this largely conservative approach from Africa’s papal candidates is a positive factor among traditional Catholics, many still don’t want a hardline pope, Gregory Tobin said. Tobin is right on topic, as he is currently writing a new book, "The Mysteries of the Conclave." The Conclave is the meeting in the Vatican where the new pope is chosen. Tobin said "the (African) Church and its leaders can come across as either ambivalent or very hard conservatives—a mixed bag that is a "turnoff" for cardinal-electors who seek more highly defined, clear theology and pastoral "style" from the one whom they will elect."

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Some analysts recommend it’s the right moment, with a pope from Africa, to reward Christians for their strength despite often horrific persecution. It’s easy to openly be a Christian in Texas. But recently in the DRC, where 95% of the population are Christian, no-one stopped Islamist rebels from forcing 70 Christians into a church where they were butchered, beheaded with machetes.

In 2023, Fox News Digital was told that more than 52,000 Christians "have been butchered or hacked to death for being Christians" since 2009 in Nigeria, according to Intersociety, a civil society group based in Onitsha.

Yet Nigeria in 2023 was shown to have the largest number of practicing Catholics in the world – worshipers who attend mass – by a long way, followed by another African country, Kenya. This is according to Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), which reported "weekly or more frequent Mass attendance is highest among adult self-identified Catholics in Nigeria at 94% followed by Kenya at 73%."

Greg Tobin offered his take on the preferred candidates. First, "Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, DRC, Archbishop of Kinshasa, is a leading African candidate, though he is not considered strong or consistent in his theological teachings, (and) he is a vocal opponent of the dictatorial leadership of his country."

And "Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appia Turkson, from Ghana, [from] 2020 onward served Pope Francis as head of a multi-group task force to monitor widespread effects of (the) coronavirus pandemic on churches and Catholic institutions. Turkson is a viable choice, widely respected, liked by Pope Francis, and theologically and "politically" palatable to Western prelates, but his visibility has dimmed in recent years. His election would be a major surprise along the same line that Bergolio’s (Pope Francis) was in 2013."

Tobin pointed out that Guinea’s Cardinal Robert Sarah, being 80, is "ineligible to vote in the conclave due to age. A distinct long-shot, due to age and sense his time has passed." 

One final note: Should the next Pope come from Africa, he won’t be the first. Victor 1, from North Africa, served as the Pontiff between 189-199, and was closely followed by Miltiades and Gelasius 1.