A month of history: From the shock of April 21 to the smiles of May 21

Since April 21, the Church and the world have witnessed a historic month, from the death of Pope Francis to the election and first steps of his successor, Pope Leo XIV, another pope of the Americas.

The agency I.MEDIA looks back on the days that put the papacy at the center of the world's attention.

Still resting after the Easter festivities the day before, Rome slowly woke up on this public holiday. Many had planned a quiet Monday. But shortly before 10 a.m., the Holy See released a live broadcast from the chapel of the Santa Marta residence. Cardinal Chamberlain Kevin Farrell announced the death of Pope Francis, which had occurred at 7:35 a.m.

Shock gripped the city, which had just seen the 88-year-old pontiff bless the crowd from the popemobile only the day before. A certain confusion followed for a few hours. The faithful who rushed to St. Peter's found no prayer services or any sign of the death of the head of the Catholic Church, a sign that everyone was caught off guard. It was only at the end of the day, with the rite of death, that mourning began in earnest.

The day after Pope Francis' death, cardinals from around the world began to arrive. Gathered on Tuesday morning in “general congregations,” they had to first prepare the funeral and then the conclave to elect Francis' successor. Requests for press accreditation poured into the Holy See Press Office, which struggled to process thousands of applications, while all the technical equipment for media coverage — platforms for television crews and large screens stretching as far as Castel Sant'Angelo — was gradually set up. All the world's cameras focused on the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. Throughout the event, some 6,600 journalists and technicians were accredited by the Holy See.

After lying in state in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, where the Argentine pontiff's close collaborators and Vatican employees were able to pay their respects, the body of Pope Francis, laid in an open coffin as is traditional, was transferred to St. Peter's Basilica on the morning of Wednesday, April 23. The liturgy, led by Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell, took place amid intense emotion for the more than 20,000 faithful gathered in front of St. Peter's Basilica.

The sight of the pope's body and his face marked by the suffering of his final illness also had a profound impact on millions of television viewers, unaccustomed to confronting death. Until Friday, April 25, some 250,000 faithful flocked to the basilica, forming an endless line in front of the basilica— whose doors remained open almost all night — to pray before the body of the deceased pope, laid out in front of the high altar.

On Friday evening, the coffin of the 266th pope was closed during a ceremony lasting one hour. The master of papal celebrations spread a white silk veil over the face of the deceased. He placed in the coffin a purse containing coins minted with the pope's image during his pontificate and the Rogito, rolled up in a metal tube.

This text, which summarizes the pope's life and important works, recalls that upon his election in 2013, he took the name Francis, because like the saint of Assisi, he wanted to give priority to the poorest of the world. Sealing his pontificate for history, the Rogito states that "Francis left to all a marvelous witness of humanity, of holy life, and of universal fatherhood."

On April 26, the farewell to Pope Francis drew 400,000 people, including 250,000 faithful gathered near the Vatican for his funeral Mass broadcast worldwide, and 150,000 Romans along the route carrying his remains from the Vatican to his tomb in the Basilica of St. Mary Major. In a warm and fraternal atmosphere, a diverse crowd paid tribute to the “Pope of Joy,” who was honored by faithful also from the countries he had visited and supported. His funeral coincided with the Jubilee for Adolescents, who came by the thousands to St. Peter's Square, filled with emotion, curiosity, and pride at witnessing a historic moment.

This historic morning was also marked by the presence of numerous heads of state, including US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. Their face-to-face meeting after the funeral, at the back of St. Peter's Basilica, marked an unexpected breakthrough in a relationship that had been stormy since their meeting at the White House two months earlier. This day put the papacy and the Vatican at the center of world attention, revealing the strength of a 2,000-year-old institution that stands above political contingencies.

The search for Pope Francis' successor, already begun by the cardinals during the week, accelerated the day after his funeral. Considered the favorite, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin was closely watched during Sunday's Divine Mercy Mass, which he presided over in St. Peter's Square before thousands of teenagers gathered in Rome for their Jubilee. The Italian cardinal, in a sober homily, drew loud applause when he evoked the memory of Pope Francis. The teens brought this historic weekend, marked by almost summer-like temperatures in Rome, more of a festive atmosphere than one of mourning.

The following days were punctuated by the “novendiales” Masses, during which nine cardinals paid tribute to the legacy of Pope Francis. As cardinals enter or leave the general congregations held behind closed doors, some offer a few words to the press, reminding them that political or geographical criteria are not central to this complex process, which is a matter of “praying to the Holy Spirit.”

The names of Cardinals Parolin, Pizzaballa, Grech, Aveline, Tagle, and another Filipino, David, whose interventions during the Synod and general congregations made a strong impression, are particularly prominent in the newspapers. Some media outlets are also mentioning the name of the discreet Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a figure appreciated for his moderation and ability to synthesize, but whose election seems unlikely due to his American nationality.

On Wednesday, May 7, to the rhythm of the Litany of the Saints, the 133 cardinal-electors slowly entered the Sistine Chapel in procession for a conclave that was expected to be relatively short, with some cardinals assuring that it would last “no more than two or three days.” After the long oath taken by the cardinal electors, Monsignor Diego Ravelli, master of papal liturgical ceremonies, pronounced the famous “Extra omnes,” leading to the closing of the doors and the interruption of the broadcast.

A few hours later, a huge crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square and the Via della Conciliazione for the first smoke. But it arrived much later than expected, at around 9 p.m. Later, it was reported that the delay was due to a very long meditation given by Cardinal Cantalamessa, the former preacher of the Papal Household, who had been called back to guide the cardinal electors as they entered the conclave.

After a second puff of black smoke on Thursday, May 8, in the late morning, Rome erupted in euphoria at 6:08 p.m. when white smoke appeared from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, at the end of a wait marked by the spectacle of a family of seagulls nesting on the roof. A huge crowd gathered in joy and tears to hear French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti announce the name of the new pope: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected and took the name Leo XIV.

The astonishment quickly gave way to enthusiasm when the new pope, dressed in liturgical vestments, appeared in the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, weaving a first speech around the promotion of peace.

The first pope from the United States, Leo XIV also took the time to speak in Spanish to greet his former faithful in the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru. The joy of the cardinals surrounding him was particularly noticeable, especially that of Cardinal Vinko Puljic of Sarajevo, who nearly had missed the conclave due to ill health.

The cardinals would later describe the conclave experience as deeply moving, immersing them in the Christian mystery of the succession of Peter. Some indicated that Cardinal Provost's election had been met with broad consensus, if not near unanimity, among the participants in the conclave.

On the evening of May 8, splendid images of St. Peter's Square bathed in sunlight were broadcast around the world, marking the culmination of a historic moment for the Church and the Vatican.

On Saturday, May 10, the new pope made his first outing outside the Vatican, traveling to Genazzano, a small town southeast of Rome, to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel, founded by an Augustinian nun, Blessed Petruccia. The new pope was welcomed by about a hundred residents gathered in the square in front of the sanctuary and made his first appearance before the crowd, greeting those present and blessing the children. Leo XIV then entered the Marian basilica, a sanctuary run by four Augustinian friars, to pray before a representation Our Lady of Good Counsel, which has been the object of popular devotion since the 15th century.

On his return to Rome, the pope stopped at Saint Mary Major to pray at the tomb of Pope Francis, his immediate predecessor, on which he placed a white rose. As Francis liked to do, he also took time to pray before the icon of Mary, Salus Populi Romani.

On Sunday, May 11, from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, the new Pope blessed the faithful gathered in the square for the Regina Caeli prayer. To everyone's surprise and emotion, Leo XIV himself chanted this traditional Latin hymn dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The Romans who came to see and hear their new bishop said they were touched by his simplicity and humility, including his efforts to speak Italian clearly and understandably for all. In keeping with Pope Francis, he called for peace, particularly in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine.

During the first days of his pontificate, in his first speeches to the cardinals, journalists, pilgrims from the Eastern Churches, and even to a foundation dedicated to the social doctrine of the Church, the new pope outlined the first lines of his magisterium.

With frequent references to St. Augustine and other theologians, the new pope traced the first lines of his style, punctuated also by humor. On a lighter note, he also showed his passion for sports by receiving Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, ranked number one in the world.

On Sunday, May 18, some 200,000 people converged on St. Peter's Square for the solemn opening of the pontificate of Leo XIV, already pope for 10 days. This Mass marked his first tour in the popemobile, during which the new pope showed both a certain ease and a certain reserve, taking the time to bless a few children, but without great effusion.

In his homily, the pope set out a path of humility. But even more than his words, the faithful were touched by his attitude and palpable emotion, especially when he received the fisherman's ring from Cardinal Tagle.

The opening of his pontificate also marked his debut on the international stage with his first audiences with political figures, including US Vice President J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, placing the new pope at the center of the global geopolitical stage.

The one-month anniversary of Pope Francis' death coincided with a Wednesday and Pope Leo's first general audience. The Pope took up the theme of hope already begun by Francis, and concluded with a reference to his predecessor: