His Holiness Pope Francis, Supreme Pontiff of the Holy See, passed away today, April 21, 2025. As a mark of respect, the government on Monday said that a three-day state mourning will be observed across India as follows:– Two days of state mourning on Tuesday, 22nd April 2025, and Wednesday, 23rd April 2025.
— One day of state mourning on the day of the funeral.
In a statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that during the mourning period, the National Flag will be flown at half-mast throughout India on all buildings where it is regularly displayed. There will be no official entertainment during this time.Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, passed away on Monday at the age of 88. Vatican doctor Andrea Arcangeli confirmed in the death certificate released on Monday that the Pope died from a stroke and irreversible heart failure. The certificate stated that he had fallen into a coma before his death early Monday.Bells rang out in Catholic churches across his native Argentina, the Philippines, and throughout Rome as the news of his passing spread.”At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where the Pope resided.Pope Francis, who had a chronic lung condition and had one lung partially removed in his youth, was hospitalised at Gemelli Hospital on 14th February 2025 due to a respiratory crisis that progressed into double pneumonia.
