Pope Francis death as it happened: PM suspends election campaign, Trump to attend funeral after leader of Catholic Church dies aged 88 (2025)

Albanese has paid tribute to the Pope, “one of the most consequential leaders in our lifetime”.

He said the Pope “embraced all humanity” and was truly “the Pope of the people”.

“Pope Francis, I think, will be recorded in history as one of the most significant of all of the holy fathers,” Albanese said. “The change that he led was significant indeed, and he, of course, advocated for reforms that weren’t universally supported as well.

“He had courage and he showed true leadership, the first Jesuit to be the Pope.”

The PM said that many Catholics admired the Pope for his humility, “for the way that he embraced the poor, the way that he embraced the social justice message that I see as the message of Jesus Christ”.

“He was someone who I personally admired as well.”

Albanese says he hopes Governor-General Sam Mostyn, who is on her way to Turkey for Anzac Day commemorations, will be able to represent Australia at the Pope’s funeral.

“The governor-general was on her way to Turkey for the Anzac Day commemorations, and it is hoped – the details are, of course, still being finalised – but Her Excellency would be an appropriate representative,” he said. “I’ve also spoken last night with the ambassador-designate to the Holy See, Keith Pitt.

“Pitt, because of the illness of the holy father, has not been able to present his credentials yet, but Mr Pitt is assisting with the logistics and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are finalising details.”

Francis’s funeral, in accordance with the Catholic tradition, will take place within four to six days of his death – about a week out from Australia’s federal election day.

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The comparisons to the hit Hollywood film Conclave, based on the novel by Robert Harris, were inevitable.

But some say the politics of the whole affair are pretty accurately depicted in the papal thriller.

Former religion editor Barney Zwartz joins Samantha Selinger-Morris on The Morning Edition podcast to break down how the successor to Pope Francis will be chosen.

Listen to the episode in the podcast player below – or find it on Spotify, Apple and other podcast platforms.

And for more, read our in-depth explainer.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and first lady Janja Lula da Silva will travel to Rome to attend Pope Francis’ funeral, the Brazilian government said.

Lula ​has declared a seven-day mourning for Francis in Latin America’s biggest country.
“Humanity loses today a voice of respect and welcome for others,” Lula sai​d​.

“May God comfort those who today, everywhere in the world, suffer the pain of this enormous loss. In his memory and in homage to his work, I decree a seven-day mourning in Brazil.”

Reuters

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has followed Anthony Albanese and suspended campaigning for the day.

Staff confirmed Dutton would not be campaigning this morning in respect of the death of Pope Francis.

The leaders’ debate, hosted by Nine, is still expected to go ahead.

Pope Francis confirmed in his final testament that he wished to be buried in Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica) and not at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, unlike many previous pontiffs.

The Vatican released his final testament on Monday evening (Tuesday AEST).

The text specified that Francis wanted to be buried “in the ground, without particular decoration” but with the inscription of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.

Reuters

By now you’d have read there’s a whole raft of rituals and official procedures that follow the Pope’s death.

One of the key elements of the Catholic tradition is to close the Pope’s formal residence at the Apostolic Palace, by draping a red ribbon through the door handles then sealing it with wax using Francis’s official papal seal.

Francis had chosen to live in his other apartment in the Domus Santa Marta. It wasn’t clear, according to the Associated Press, if that had also been sealed off by officials.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a born and raised Catholic, was deeply affected by the death of the Pope, according to one of his senior ministers.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher told ABC News Breakfast that Catholicism was a “deep part” of Albanese’s childhood.

“As someone who was born as a Catholic and raised and went to school at a Catholic school it’s been a deep part of his upbringing,” Gallagher told the ABC.

“He’s affected just like many millions of others are.”

Albanese delivered an emotional address on Monday evening following the Pope’s passing. This morning he attended St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne and paused his campaign events for Tuesday.