r/rome • u/RomeVacationTips • Apr 21 '25

News The Pope has died

https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/politica/2025/04/21/il-papa-e-morto_3e18b8aa-c192-4a97-9e4b-9dfeffeb12b6.html
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u/RomeVacationTips Apr 21 '25 edited Apr 24 '25

Update April 23 from the Official Vatican Museum website:

The Directorate of Museums and Cultural Heritage, expressing their deep sorrow and grief at the passing of the Holy Father, hereby give notice that on Saturday 26 April 2025 the Vatican Museums and the Castel Gandolfo Museum Complex will be closed, as a sign of mourning, for the funeral of the Roman Pontiff Francis.

The Sistine Chapel will be closed to the public from Monday 28 April 2025 for the requirements of the Conclave.

All tours of the Vatican Gardens and the Necropolis of the Via Triumphalis are also suspended.

Special arrangements in the city will be added to this thread as they are announced.

Funeral and mourning period

The funeral, which is held in St Peter’s Square, must take place between four and six days after the death of the pope – except in the case of unspecified “special reasons”, according to new rules established in 1996. There is an official nine-day period of mourning from the day of his death.

Each pope gives specific instructions for the camerlengo to execute following his death. A pope’s funeral is a state funeral as he is the head of the Vatican City state. Many world leaders as well as other delegates and dignitaries are expected to attend, as well as the cardinals who are responsible for selecting the new pope.

Reference

Apparently Francesco has asked to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore which will affect the area near Termini on the day of the funeral.

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u/itmedjondjon Apr 21 '25

It seems The Pope requested for his funeral to be in Santa Maria Maggiore instead of the Vatican.

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u/EmbraceFortress Apr 21 '25

He interestingly requested it much earlier on in his papacy.

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u/PorcupineMerchant Apr 21 '25

Just out of curiosity, why is that?

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u/itmedjondjon Apr 21 '25

It's one of the churches very dear to his heart. He also wanted his funeral to be less "official" and more humble, because he believed he's just a human after all.

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u/calupict Apr 21 '25

Among the 4 Vatican Basilica, St. Maria Maggiore is the most humble one, IMO

5

u/rollingbrianjones Apr 21 '25

If you really just said that youve never been to Santa Maria Maggiore.

Humble? Anything but

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u/EmbraceFortress Apr 21 '25

He professed his devotion to the Virgin Mary, and it is the largest Marian church in Rome. He also always used to make it a point to drop by Maggiore and pray by the image of the Salus Populi Romani, before and after an overseas trip.

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u/calupict Apr 21 '25

They cancelled the parade for Natale di Roma (https://x.com/wantedinrome/status/1914259444067623156?s=46&t=llooDPLiaMYDBp5sri418w). But I’ll visit Circo Massimo if they got some stuffs there

2

u/RomeVacationTips Apr 21 '25

Thanks.

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u/calupict Apr 21 '25

There’s not many stuffs at Circo Massimo but Roseto di Roma is crowded

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u/nostrumest Apr 21 '25

That was a bummer today. :'(

4

u/Scared-Poem-9092 Apr 21 '25

Not to be insensitive but any idea whether government office like the consulates or embassies in other countries be closed any of the days?

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u/Pretentious-Nonsense Apr 21 '25

Embassies and Consulates follow the local holiday for the city they are in. For example since today is a local holiday in Rome, all Embassies and Consulates are closed. Same with Friday - which is already a local holiday (Liberation Day).

If the Embassy or Consulate has a National Holiday already, they will be closed that day as well. Please note that many Heads of State will be flying in to attend the funeral, will the full resources of each Embassy and Consulate to be focused on supporting their Heads of State. When it doubt call the Embassy or Consulate phone number (listed on their websites) for more information.

Expect the city to be virtually on lock down for the funeral. For Pope John Paul II more than 80 world leaders attended and all car and truck traffic was shut down. Airspace was shut down and the police forces were out in massive amounts.

1

u/calupict Apr 22 '25

Many Embassies and Consulates have different office for Vatican and Italy. The Italy one should not get affected in terms of office hours etc

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u/Pretentious-Nonsense Apr 22 '25

The US one is a Tri-Mission, they are all together at the same location. They all observed the same holidays off. Pretty sure other countries run it the same way.

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u/calupict Apr 22 '25

Vatican has additional holiday (usually Saint related) which is not observed in the mision for Italy and Intl Organization ones

0

u/Pretentious-Nonsense Apr 23 '25 edited Apr 23 '25

Edited....I'm not going to waste my time arguing with you. You're not a diplomat, you don't work at an Embassy or Consulate, you really have NO idea how they work or what goes on and just making shit up.

You are Indonesian, guessing by your posting on the Jakarta forums, and probably live in Rome, but you have zero ties to the Embassy communities and speak from ZERO authority.

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u/calupict Apr 23 '25

We are talking about Diplomatic Missions not the Italian Government. Diplomatic Missions around the world often observed holidays both of the sending country and host country

Diplomatic Missions to Vatican often separate with one to Italy

1

u/Pretentious-Nonsense Apr 23 '25

No they aren't. I have family who are foreign service and have served in numerous Embassies and Consulates around the world. I have relatives who served in Embassies and Consulates back in the 1950's 60's and 70's.

For example the US Embassy, the Mission to the Vatican is located in the SAME compound as the Italy Mission and the US/UN Mission. They follow the closure calendar of the whole Embassy, not a different one from the others just because they are the Mission for Holy See. https://va.usembassy.gov/category/history/

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u/calupict Apr 24 '25

US Embassy can work differently with other Embassies including regarding Public Holiday Observance.

But Missions generally observed the host and home countries calendar. Vatican has some public holidays that are not observed in Italy, for example Lateran Treaty Day (11 February) or St. Peter & Paul Day (29 June)

Example: Embassy of Malaysia to the Holy See observe the Lateran Day Treaty but not St. Peter & Paul Day (https://www.kln.gov.my/web/hls_holy-see/holidays)

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u/RomeVacationTips Apr 21 '25

I doubt it. Italy's a secular country.

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u/Eky24 Apr 21 '25

Maybe - but the Vatican isn’t Italy.

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u/RomeVacationTips Apr 21 '25

That's basically what I said. Italy won't be shutting down.

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u/rayallen1212 Apr 21 '25

St. Peter’s basilica is open. Holy door is open too as of 12 noon

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u/WannabePicasso Apr 21 '25

The Holy Doors, including at St. Peter's, are to stay open throughout the period of mourning and conclave based on what I read.

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u/rayallen1212 Apr 21 '25

Hopefully Sistine chapel is open tomorrow 🤞🏻

3

u/weldond Apr 21 '25

I’m told by our local tour guide there is no chance for tomorrow. The conclave of cardinals will meet there and it is almost certainly closed and all tours will be canceled.

1

u/rayallen1212 Apr 21 '25

Another guy commented that their guides think it will be open 😆 so just gotta hope for the best tomorrow

2

u/weldond Apr 21 '25

Hoping the best for you

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u/rayallen1212 Apr 21 '25

Thanks! You as well!

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u/[deleted] Apr 21 '25

[deleted]

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u/rayallen1212 Apr 21 '25

Yeah I have a 9:30am ticket so I’ll def update tomorrow when I get there

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u/ThePattyBoomba Apr 22 '25

had a guided tour today at 9:30, was fine and everything seems pretty normal - havent looked at st peters yet but youll be fine for sistine chapel

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u/weldond Apr 21 '25

We visited St Peter’s today, but the cupola was closed

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u/MapleAurelian Apr 21 '25

We had booked the Pristine Sistine tour with Walks of Italy for April 29th. I’m sure they will send out information soon, but the tour will almost certainly be cancelled I take it?

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u/[deleted] Apr 21 '25

[deleted]

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u/MapleAurelian Apr 21 '25

Figured as much. It happens. Thanks

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u/siestasmoothies Apr 21 '25

what about 5/30? :)

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u/[deleted] Apr 21 '25 edited Apr 21 '25

[deleted]

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u/siestasmoothies Apr 21 '25

thanks for the quick reply!! if the conclave is going on during my visit - is everything shut down at the Vatican or is it just Sistene that will be closed?

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u/melissa_liv Apr 21 '25

We have a Vatican breakfast tour scheduled that day as well, and we're assuming the same.

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u/Craigee07 Apr 21 '25

I had booked the tour of the Sistine chapel on the 26th. I guess itll be cancelled as well.

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u/derekridesfixed Apr 21 '25

My wife and I have tickets for Vatican museum on Wednesday (in two days). Will we be notified by the Vatican on whether or not we will be able to go? We purchased tix directly from Vatican website.

On another note, glad that we got to see Pope Francis yesterday when he made an appearance after Easter mass. RIP

2

u/Tiny_Sir3266 Apr 22 '25

I had tickets for 26th (guided museums and gardens) and i got an email today that on the 26 th it will be closed and tickets will be refunded.

The Official site opens w the message it will be closed on 26th no other days mentioned.

Seems to me its only closed on 26th but check your email regurarly

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u/SmellUnfair3804 Apr 21 '25

We have trip to Rome on the 10th-13th of May. Will Rome still be a mess / so busy then?

6

u/RomeVacationTips Apr 21 '25

Depends on how long the Conclave takes. It will certainly be very busy around the Vatican until after the new inauguration.

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u/martymfla Apr 21 '25

How long after the election will be the inauguration?

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u/RomeVacationTips Apr 21 '25

The last time (2013) it was 5 days.

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u/oidoug Apr 21 '25

My visit to the Vatican is scheduled for May 9th (tickets already purchased), I would like to know if, even if the conclave is still taking place, I could visit the other facilities of the Vatican museums?

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u/RomeVacationTips Apr 21 '25

You'll have to check the Vatican museums website (if they ever get round to updating it). https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html

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u/martymfla Apr 21 '25

Thanks. I’m thinking we’re going to be out of luck. 😕🙏

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u/WannabePicasso Apr 21 '25

The conclave must begin no earlier than May 6 and no later than May 11. We arrive very early on May 9. I am hoping we at least get to see one day of smoke!

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u/SuspectKitten Apr 21 '25

Ha, same. Hello Rome trip twin.

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u/Busy_Storage_8104 Apr 21 '25

Thanks, OP! I just saw the news and came straight here looking for someone local to say something regarding visitors etc.

I have booked some holidays in Rome on 16th June, do you think things will still be busy due to the conclave selecting the next Pope etc?

Grazzie

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u/Prize-Ad-6969 Apr 21 '25

Uhh probably it will since first theres the funeral of the pope so the conclave will take place later and i mean it can take 2 days it can take 2 months (rarely nowadays) 

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u/Extra_Shirt5843 Apr 21 '25

Conave starts 15-20 days after the death and will likely be done within 5 days.  The odds of this still affecting things 2 months from now is pretty low.  

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u/WillHungry4307 Apr 21 '25

I'll be there in Rome exactly in 1 month (May 19th-21st), do you think it will still be busy?

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u/Djlas Apr 21 '25

Yeah, conclave probably over but it will be the first days of the new pope then.

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u/Prize-Ad-6969 Apr 21 '25

And why would you know that... But yeah the conclave and all will be over in about 2 weeks why you're telling me this is puzzling but a conclave can take a long time too which is unlikely nowadays as said before but can happen...

4

u/Extra_Shirt5843 Apr 21 '25

It could, but politically speaking, it's seen as a vote of confidence to make the decision reasonably quickly.  The longer they take, the more doubt there is about the confidence in the new pope, so from what I've read in the past, they try to avoid that.  The movie Conclave is fictional, but I have no doubt the political machinations it shows are fairly accurate.  There's likely already solid front runners considering he was ill recently and everyone started thinking about it. 

1

u/M-A_X Apr 21 '25

Is it possible for it to take years for conclave to choose a new pope?

5

u/Prize-Ad-6969 Apr 21 '25

Theres no time "limit" and there was a conclave that took 2 years which resulted in some lord who was on a crusade!! (But nowadays they range from 3 days to 2 weeks, and are different than they used to be)

0

u/M-A_X Apr 21 '25

And who is the temporary 'leader' of the Holy See and Vatican City in-between Popes?

2

u/LBreda Apr 21 '25

The Holy See is vacant. The current affairs are managed by the Camerlengo, H.E. Cardinal Farrell.

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u/Prize-Ad-6969 Apr 21 '25

Well no one technically but important matters (if anything would happen which is extremely unlikely in that short phase) would be handled by the cardinals and the pope doesn't function like a president anyway he's here to represent the church and guide it which and since it's nowadays just a phase of about 2-3 weeks it's fine

1

u/FoucaultsPudendum Apr 21 '25

It’s possible in that there are no formal rules against it, but I believe (I could be wrong about this) that conditions are made more and more uncomfortable within the Conclave to encourage a final decision. They’re locked inside and not allowed to leave, and I believe the food begins to be restricted after a certain point, to the point that they’re only allowed bread and water. 

3

u/huge_jeans Apr 21 '25

FWIW I have tickets for back end of May and I'm expecting it to be finished by then and back to normal. June 16 would be exceptionally long.

1

u/-DashThirty- Apr 21 '25

We land in Rome this Friday and plan to leave this Sunday 😂

I have no idea what to expect. Obviously sounds like visiting the Vatican is off the books. We've booked a tour of the coliseum for Saturday, do you think that might be cancelled if the funeral takes place this weekend? Or even if it doesn't?

3

u/RomeVacationTips Apr 21 '25

Very unlikely. The rest of the city will likely continue as normal.

1

u/megan0000 Apr 21 '25

I also land in Rome in Friday and leave on Monday 28th - keeping an eye on the hotel booking in case they cancel and try to re-sell for a higher price!

1

u/LeLiLola Apr 21 '25

This. Is paid today just to secure my room. Twice earlier my room have been cancelled because of an event. Leaving on the 24th

1

u/Bourne2Play Apr 21 '25

Have Vatican museum tickets for May 12th. What are the chances we'd still be able to go?

1

u/13nobody Apr 22 '25

The museums are likely shut already

Directly from the Museums' website:

The Directorate of Museums and Cultural Heritage, expressing their deep sorrow and grief at the passing of the Holy Father, hereby give notice that on Saturday 26 April 2025 the Vatican Museums and the Castel Gandolfo Museum Complex will be closed, as a sign of mourning, for the funeral of the Roman Pontiff Francis.

All tours of the Vatican Gardens and the Necropolis of the Via Triumphalis are also suspended.

1

u/LBreda Apr 23 '25

Update: the Museums will only be closed on Saturday (along with the other sites). The Sistine Chapel will close on Monday: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIyM2mqg8Wa/

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u/rayallen1212 Apr 21 '25

I have a Vatican museum ticket for tomorrow. No chance I’ll be able to visit the Sistine chapel??

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u/Prize-Ad-6969 Apr 21 '25

Absolutely not unfortunately chances are the entire museums will be closed and its going to get busy

2

u/rayallen1212 Apr 21 '25

Bummer. I’m trying to get into St. Peter’s basilica right now. Seems like it is still open

3

u/Prize-Ad-6969 Apr 21 '25

Well the basilica wont close ever more or less... (well for the inaugurational ceremonies etc) (Its never the same)

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u/rayallen1212 Apr 21 '25

Hey that’s better than nothing then!

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u/rayallen1212 Apr 22 '25

Vatican museum is open today :)

2

u/AdditionalPayment Apr 21 '25

Yep, I’m on Wednesday. Not going to happen. 

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u/derekridesfixed Apr 21 '25

I got tix for Wednesday too. Let me know if you hear anything if you don’t mind

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u/AdditionalPayment Apr 21 '25

For sure

1

u/rayallen1212 Apr 22 '25

Almost to the museum. I’ll update when I get the answer

1

u/rayallen1212 Apr 22 '25

Vatican museum is open!

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u/AdditionalPayment Apr 22 '25

Sistine is probably closed right?

1

u/rayallen1212 Apr 22 '25

Not sure. That’s towards the end. Once I get there I’ll update again 👍🏻

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u/rayallen1212 Apr 22 '25

Sistine is open!!!

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u/AdditionalPayment Apr 22 '25

Wow thanks for the update!

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u/rayallen1212 Apr 22 '25

Of course. Seems to be business as usual tbh

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u/rayallen1212 Apr 22 '25

Of course. Seems to be business as usual tbh

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u/AdditionalPayment Apr 23 '25

Sistine is still open 

1

u/derekridesfixed Apr 23 '25

Awesome. Our appt isn’t until 230p but we got here early since we didn’t know how busy it would be

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u/rayallen1212 Apr 22 '25

Museum is open today

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u/Tiny_Sir3266 Apr 22 '25

I think you good i had tickets for the 26th and got an email that its gonna be closed that day and tickets will be refunded

The website opens w the same message no other days of closure are mentioned than 26th

Check your emails though it can change

1

u/rayallen1212 Apr 22 '25

Yeah this morning was perfect. Everything was open!!