On March 13, 2013, the papal conclave burned their ballots, and white smoke emerged from the chimney, alerting the world that the Catholic Church had filled the Chair of Saint Peter. A new pope had been chosen.
Hundreds of Catholics swarmed St. Peter’s Square, and thousands more watched on the news, eagerly looking up towards the Basilica’s balcony. At any moment, the new pope would step out. Each time the curtain covering the large window twitched, Catholics held their breath, thinking now he would step out.
It was soon on this cool evening that Cardinal Jorge Bergolio became Pope Francis. For 12 years, Pope Francis led the Catholic Church as the first Jesuit and as the first Latin American. He fulfilled his vocation to the clergy for 56 years, as he was ordained to the priesthood in 1969. Pope Francis was raised to the status of cardinal in 2001 by the late Pope St. John Paul II.
As a Catholic-Franciscan university, Viterbo mourns the loss of its religious leader. Pope Francis chose his papal name specifically from Saint Francis of Assisi. He admired Saint Francis’ compassion and understanding for all people and creatures as well as his desire for peace. This is not only the basis for Pope Francis’ papacy, but it also aligns with Viterbo University’s values.
Pope Francis emphasized contemplation throughout his daily work as pope and service by wanting to help the poor. He embodied hospitality by promoting that God’s love and mercy are available to all who turn back to the Church. Stewardship can be seen in his writings, like “Laudato Si’,” which impressed the relationship between humanity and the Earth, and how we need to be more environmentally conscious. Finally, he valued integrity by staying true to the ideals of Saint Francis and implementing them throughout his papacy.
Another important aspect of Pope Francis’s papacy was having the Sixteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, also known as the Synod on Synodality. This lasted three years, from 2021 to 2024. The focus of this synod is for the leaders of the Church to decide its path. The three themes were communion, participation, and mission, which are all important pillars of Catholicism. The final document concluded that baptized Catholics need to be aware, accountable, and participate more in where the Church goes.
Pope Francis was strong in his value of compassion and represented it in having the synod. He wanted to make sure that all people felt included and cared for, just like Saint Francis. This value is what all Catholics should strive for.
Now that Pope Francis has passed away, the Catholic Church has entered a period of mourning that lasts for nine days, called the Novendiale. His funeral occurred on April 26, 2025, and according to his wishes, he will be buried in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, Italy.
Catholics are now both grieving their Pope and speculating on who will be elected next. The Church is now in “sede vacante,” and cardinals from all over the world are already convening in Italy. They will soon enter general congregations in which they will have conferences about the current needs and challenges of the Church.
Finally, after 15 to 20 days since Pope Francis’s death, the conclave will begin. The conclave includes all cardinals under the age of 80, and they are locked in the Sistine Chapel until they can vote on the new pope. He needs two-thirds of the majority to be elected to the position.
While the cardinals are voting, they do so in secret. The only communication that the public receives is in the form of smoke. By the end of the day, if the cardinals’ votes have not reached the two-thirds majority, then black smoke is sent up by burning the ballots. However, once the new pope is chosen, white smoke is sent up.
Pope Francis did not know that when he left Buenos Aires in 2013 he would fill the Chair of Saint Peter. As the current cardinals leave their homes and make their way to Vatican City, one of them walks the same path as Pope Francis did.
There are two actions that Catholics, and Viterbo, can take. First is to mourn the death of Pope Francis, which was seen in a mass on April 25 at San Damiano. The second is to pray. Pray for the future pope, pray for the conclave, and finally pray for the repose of Pope Francis’s soul. Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine.
