VATICAN CITY & PUERTO VALLARTA – Pope Francis, the 266th Bishop of Rome and the first Latin‑American pontiff, died at 7:35 a.m. Rome time (12:35 a.m. in Puerto Vallarta) on Easter Monday, April 21, after twelve years leading the Roman Catholic Church. The official medical bulletin lists the cause as a massive stroke followed by irreversible heart failure, according to Vatican physician Dr. Andrea Arcangeli. Reuters
A Pontificate That Shaped the Modern Church
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Jesuit priest broke centuries of precedent on 13 March 2013 by becoming the first pope from the Americas. Over the past decade he championed migrants, addressed the climate crisis and opened unprecedented dialogue with LGBTQ+ Catholics while steering the Church through bruising abuse scandals. Business InsiderReuters
Nine Days of Mourning – Novediale
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, confirmed the death, triggering the Novediale, a nine‑day cycle of mourning liturgies that culminates in the papal funeral in St. Peter’s Square and the sealing of the papal apartment. The funeral is expected between Friday and Sunday; a conclave of 135 cardinal electors will convene 15–20 days after the funeral to choose a successor. Reuters
Puerto Vallarta’s Tribute Begins at Noon
Locally, Father Arturo Arana, pastor of the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Joseph, announced a community observance at 12 p.m. today:
“We will intone three minutes of Gregorian chant, followed by three minutes of solemn bell‑ringing. From the noon Mass onward, every liturgy in our parish will be offered for the eternal repose of Pope Francis until the conclave elects his successor,” Fr. Arana said.
Parish volunteers began draping black and white mourning bunting across the façade early this morning, and congregants placed candles and white roses beneath a portrait of the late pontiff in the narthex. Similar tributes are planned in Bucerías, Sayulita and San Sebastián del Oeste, reflecting the strong Argentine‑Mexican affinity many faithful feel toward Francis.
How the Novediale Will Unfold in Puerto Vallarta
- April 21 – April 29: Daily Requiem Masses at noon and 7 p.m.
- April 24 (Day 4): Community rosary on the Malecón, 8 p.m.
- April 29 (Day 9): Sung Vespers and candle‑lit procession to the Calvary Chapel.
Local diocesan schools will fly their flags at half‑staff, and Bishop Luis Ambrosio will preside over a diocesan Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Day 9, the traditional culmination of mourning before the conclave opens in Rome.
Next Steps in Rome
- Body in state: The pope’s remains will lie in St. Peter’s Basilica for public veneration, likely beginning Wednesday.
- Funeral: Vatican protocol dictates a papal funeral 4–6 days after death in St. Peter’s Square.
- Burial: Francis requested interment in the Basilica of St. Mary Major rather than the traditional grotto beneath St. Peter’s. Reuters
- Conclave: Expected to begin in early May under Michelangelo’s Last Judgment, with white smoke signaling the election of the 267th pope.
Local Reaction
María Elena López, a parishioner lighting a candle after morning Mass, said Francis’ focus on the marginalized resonated deeply in Puerto Vallarta’s migrant and LGBTQ+ communities. “He told us God’s mercy is bigger than any label. That message changed my life,” she said through tears.
Mayor Ramón Guerrero extended condolences on behalf of the city and asked residents to observe a minute of silence at the start of today’s municipal council session.
Remembering Francis in Mexico
Pope Francis visited Mexico in 2016, celebrating Mass in Ecatepec, visiting prisoners in Ciudad Juárez and praying at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. His homily in Mexico City—“Love is the most powerful antidote to indifference”—was quoted widely this morning on social media by Mexican officials and clergy.
