On April 21, 2025, Pope Francis passed away at 88 years old. He died of a stroke and heart failure. Before his death, Francis spent a few months in the hospital, ill, but he was turning a leaf and getting better. He had double pneumonia and was in the hospital for five weeks. 

  The day before his passing, he attended ceremonies and met people on Easter Sunday. He was also seen this whole week before being active in the community. 

The Pope was elected in 2013 and was one of the oldest popes in the church’s history. The death created several days of mourning, but the long process of choosing a new pope has been put in place.

  Choosing a new pope is a long process that is conducted by around 135 people. The papal conclave chooses the next pope, and it will start on May 7, 2025. Due to the church’s rules, the conclave must choose its next successor within 15-20 days of the current pope’s death. 

  Although the passing of the pope is all over the media, many students here at Grand Ledge High School found out about it in different ways. 

  “The day it happened, I woke up and went on to my phone, and the Apple News had a notification about it,” junior Abigail Fiero said. 

  With the Pope being such an important figure, his illness before his death was all over the news and was very well known to the public. 

  “I knew that he was sick, but I didn’t know that his passing would be so sudden. I also was so surprised because it was the day after Easter and just the day before he was seen doing things for Easter,” Fiero said. 

  Although the news of the pope’s passing was surprising to some, it creates thoughts of who the next pope will be. With the talk about the new pope, many females are questioning the fact that the new pope can’t be a female. 

  “The fact that the next pope can’t be a female is a little confusing to me, but when they choose the next pope, I hope they choose well,” Fiero said.