?As Cardinal Farrell presides over rite of ascertainment of Pope Francis? death

The Dean of the Sacred College has summoned the Most Eminent Cardinals to Rome, for the First General Congregation scheduled for Tuesday April 22, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.

Also, the Holy See Press Office confirmed that the rite of ascertainment of death and placement of late Pope Francis? body in the coffin will take place on Monday at 8:00 PM Rome time, and will be presided over by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, in the Chapel of the Vatican?s Casa Santa Marta.

The Press Office also indicated that those present will include the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, and family members of the late Pope Francis, along with Andrea Arcangeli and Luigi Carbone, the director and deputy director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene, respectively.

Matteo Bruni, director, Holy See Press Office, disclosed that Pope Francis? body could be transferred to St. Peter?s Basilica on Wednesday morning, so that the faithful may pray before his mortal remains.

?The translation of the Holy Father?s mortal remains to the Vatican Basilica, for the veneration of all the faithful, may take place on the morning of Wednesday, April 23, 2025, according to the arrangements that shall be determined and communicated tomorrow, following the first Congregation of the Cardinals,? Bruni said.

Separately, the Press Office announced that the canonization Mass for Blessed Carlo Acutis has been temporarily suspended due to the death of Pope Francis.

The Eucharistic celebration and canonization rite had been scheduled for Sunday, April 27, on the Second Sunday of Easter, also celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday.

The General Congregation

The General Congregation was confirmed in a Tweet on X by @silerenonpossum, which is considered the precursor to the Conclave.

Upon death, the time-honoured rituals, drafted and refined over centuries, allow for ritual mourning and provide order at moment of transition.

The rituals, drafted and refined over the centuries allow for secrecy and orderly transition.

The carefully choreographed pageantry provides order to the church in its most dramatic moment of flux.

A pope?s death is immediately confirmed by the head of the Vatican?s health department and the cardinal chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, who becomes the Vatican?s de facto administrator.

The pope?s body is dressed in a white cassock and brought to the pope?s private chapel.

Here?s Pope?s final battle:

The 88 year-old Pope Francis had a battle with respiratory tract infection at the initial stage, which later developed into pneumonia in both lungs, and other complications that followed according to hospital reports.

He had a respiratory crisis that resulted in his having to receive high flows of supplemental oxygen.

The Vatican in one of its daily updates announced that he was suffering from ?initial, mild kidney failure,? which was ?under control.?

He was treated with various drugs, and doctors said that calibrating them has been a challenge given his age and history of lung disease. (BusinessDay)

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