Papal Conclave 2025

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Novemdiales (Nine Days of Mourning) Masses Schedule for Pope Francis (26 April 2025 – 4 May 2025)

First Day (Saturday, 26 April 2025 at 10 am)

Papal Funeral Mass at St. Peter’s Square

Celebrant: Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals

Second Day (Sunday, 27 April 2025 at 10.30 am)

Novemdiales Mass at St. Peter’s Square (for employees and faithful of Vatican City)

Celebrant: Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State

Third Day (Monday, 28 April 2025 at 5 pm)

Novemdiales Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica (for the Church and Diocese of Rome)

Celebrant: Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome

Fourth Day (Tuesday, 29 April 2025 at 5 pm)

Novemdiales Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica (for the Chapters of the Papal Basilicas)

Celebrant: Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican

Fifth Day (Wednesday, 30 April 2025 at 5 pm)

Novemdiales Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica (for the members of the Papal Chapel)

Celebrant: Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals

Sixth Day (Thursday, 1 May 2025 at 5 pm)

Novemdiales Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica (for the Roman Curia)

Celebrant: Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

Seventh Day (Friday, 2 May 2025 at 5 pm)

Novemdiales Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica (for the Eastern Churches)

Celebrant: Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches

Eighth Day (Saturday, 3 May 2025 at 5 pm)

Novemdiales Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica (for the members of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life)

Celebrant: Cardinal Angel Fernandez Artime, Pro-Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life

Ninth Day (Sunday, 4 May 2025 at 5 pm)

Novemdiales Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica (for the members of the Papal Chapel)

Celebrant: Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Protodeacon of the College of Cardinals

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Status of College of Cardinals prior to Papal Conclave 2025 (as of 23 April 2025)

Total Cardinals : 252

Cardinal-Electors : 135

Cardinal Non-Electors : 117

Next Cardinal-Elector turning 80 :

Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra (Spain), Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Madrid on 16 May 2025.

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Cardinal Bishops : 13

Cardinal Priests : 205

Cardinal Deacons : 34

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Dean of the College of Cardinals : Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re

Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals : Cardinal Leonardi Sandri

Cardinal Protopriest : Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu

Cardinal Protodeacon : Cardinal Dominique Francois Joseph Mamberti

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Sealing of the Papal Apartments after the Passing of Pope Francis

The private residence of the Pope in the Vatican City, that is his apartment in the Apostolic Palace beside the Basilica of St. Peter is left vacant upon the death of the Pope as Pope Francis, the 266th Pope has just passed away on Monday, 21 April 2025.

Therefore, in order to avoid fraud and manipulation of papal documents of the previous Pope, and to prevent release of items that can only be done by the new Pope, the Pope’s Apartment is sealed, by a special officer of the Roman Curia, that is the Camerlengo (Chamberlain) of the Holy Roman Church, who is now Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is also the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life.

The Camerlengo is the leader of the sede vacante transition period, and working in conjunction with the Dean of the College of Cardinals. His duties include sealing the Pope’s apartment and the destruction of the Pope’s Ring of the Fisherman, both of which meant to ensure no fraud documents can be released in absence of the Pope.

The sealing is done as soon as the Pope passed away or stepped down, and done in the presence of the Vice-Camerlengo, who is now Archbishop Ilson de Jesus Montanari, and sealed with a silk string tied and sealed with a wax seal to ensure no one can enter the room, with the unbroken wax seal as evidence.

The room will only be opened again and the seal broken after the conclave is completed and a new Pope is elected.