Vatican City — The Catholic Church has entered a solemn phase of mourning and preparation following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday. On Tuesday, April 22, the College of Cardinals held the first general congregation at the Vatican, signaling the beginning of the official interregnum period — a time marked by prayer, planning, and the gradual transition toward electing the next pope.

An estimated 60 cardinals from around the world gathered at 9 a.m. local time for the closed-door session, held just a day after the Holy Father’s passing. Among the key decisions made was the setting of the funeral date: Pope Francis will be laid to rest on Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square. The cardinals also voted to suspend all beatification celebrations during the mourning period and took the customary oath of secrecy concerning the conclave preparations.

These general congregations, which will continue daily, are part of the Church's tradition during the sede vacante — the vacant seat of Peter. While funeral arrangements and logistical matters take precedence in the initial meetings, later sessions will focus on broader issues facing the Church. However, Vatican officials stress that no names of potential successors, or papabili, are discussed at this stage.

The Novendiales: Nine Days of Prayer and Remembrance
Alongside these administrative gatherings, the Church has also entered a sacred period of mourning known as the Novendiales — nine days of consecutive Masses offered for the repose of the late pope’s soul. This centuries-old tradition will begin on the day of Pope Francis' funeral and continue through May 4.

The Novendiales follows the ancient Roman and Christian custom of holding nine days of mourning. The liturgies are based on the updated Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, revised in 2024 at the request of Pope Francis himself. The Masses are held in St. Peter’s Basilica and presided over each day by a different cardinal, following a schedule that honors various communities within the Church.

Liturgical color for the Novendiales is red, symbolizing both martyrdom and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Each day's Mass centers on a specific group: the day after the funeral is typically attended by Vatican City residents and employees; clergy of the Diocese of Rome gather on the third day; and members of the Eastern Catholic Churches participate on the seventh.

The second Novendiales Mass will coincide with a previously scheduled Jubilee celebration for teenagers on Sunday, April 27, and will be presided over by Cardinal Pietro Parolin. All subsequent Masses will take place in the afternoons through May 4.

Church in Prayer and Transition
As the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica continue to toll and pilgrims from around the world pass before the coffin of Pope Francis, lying in state in the basilica, the Church finds itself united in grief and hope. In life, the pope often asked, “Please, don’t forget to pray for me.” In death, that plea is answered daily in every corner of the globe.

While the Novendiales draws the faithful into prayer, the cardinals' general congregations quietly pave the way for the next chapter of the Church’s leadership. Only after this period concludes will the conclave begin — likely around the fifteenth day after the pope's death — as the Church prepares to elect the 267th successor of Saint Peter.

Until then, the eyes of the faithful remain on the Vatican — a place of tears, prayers, and expectation.