What happens now after the death of Pope Francis?

A faithful holds a portrait of late Pope Francis at the Basílica de San José de Flores, where he worshipped as a youth, following the Vatican's announcement of his death in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 21, 2025. AP - Gustavo Garello

The death of Pope Francis on Monday aged 88, after 12 years as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has set in motion centuries-old traditions which will culminate in cardinals electing a new pontiff.

The death of Pope Francis has triggered a mourning period and a process for electing a new pontiff, both of which involve rites going back centuries.