India declares three-day state mourning on the passing of Pope Francis

The Ministry of Dwelling Affairs (MHA) on Monday introduced a three-day state mourning throughout India as a mark of respect following the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, the Supreme Pontiff of the Holy See.

Pope Francis, historical past’s first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world together with his humility and concern for the poor however alienated conservatives over local weather change and critiques of capitalism, died Monday. He was 88.

“His Holiness Pope Francis, Supreme Pontiff of the Holy See handed away at the moment, the twenty first April, 2025. As a mark of respect, three-day State Mourning shall be noticed all through India, within the following method: – Two days’ State Mourning on Tuesday, the twenty second April, 2025 and Wednesday, the twenty third April, 2025. – At some point’s State Mourning on the day of the funeral. Throughout the interval of the State Mourning, the Nationwide Flag can be flown at half-mast all through India on all buildings the place the Nationwide Flag is flown repeatedly, and there can be no official leisure,” Ministry of Dwelling Affairs stated in an announcement.

Francis, who suffered from power lung illness and had a part of one lung eliminated as a younger man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory disaster that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.

He made his final public look on Easter Sunday — a day earlier than his loss of life — to bless 1000’s of individuals in St. Peter’s Sq., drawing wild cheers and applause. Beforehand, he met US Vice President JD Vance.

Francis carried out the blessing from the identical loggia the place he was launched on March 13, 2013, because the 266th pope.

With inputs from companies