How Pope Francis’ Death Will Impact Vatican Travel

The Vatican announced on April 21 that Pope Francis died at the age of 88. He served in the position since being elected in 2013. 

“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” His Eminence, Cardinal Farrell, shared in a statement. “At 7:35 this morning (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values ​​of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.”

Farrell added, “With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

Over the coming days and weeks there will be flurry of activity around Vatican City, first to lay rest to Pope Francis, who, according to the BBC, requested a less elaborate funeral service than his predecessors. He reportedly asked for a simple wood coffin and asked that his public viewing be accessible, with no raised platform and instead have his coffin's lid removed for viewing.

He will later be buried outside the Vatican, in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, marking the first time in more than a century that a Pope will be buried somewhere else.

If you plan to visit Rome or the Vatican in the coming days and weeks, know that it does not shut down entirely during this time. The Economic Times noted that many of the city's hotels, restaurants, and sites will remain open, as will transport services like the metro and taxis. 

However, several official areas will likely close during the Conclave, the official meeting of about 120 of the world's cardinals in the Sistine Chapel to elect a successor.

As the Guardian explained, these cardinals usually come together 15 to 20 days following the pope's death for deliberations. During those deliberations, the doors of the chapel will be locked, and the cardinals will then swear an oath of secrecy and cannot make contact with the outside world during the election process.

Once the voting is complete, the ballots are burned, with either black or white smoke emitting from the chimney; black smoke signifies an inconclusive vote, while white smoke signifies that a new pope has been chosen. The longest this process took was five days back in 1922, meaning the chapel will be inaccessible to visitors throughout this timeframe. 

But again, much of the Vatican will remain open over the next several weeks as travelers and religious pilgrims come to pay respects. Travelers should expect longer wait times, significantly longer security checks, and larger crowds in general. Also, expect various portions of the Vatican to be inaccessible for preparation work for the events.

If you do have a Vatican tour scheduled, check with your tour operator to see if they are still ongoing or if they can reschedule your visit for a later date.