The Government declared 7 days of national mourning for Francisco's death: what it means

The presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, communicated through his social media that the national Government, by decision of President Javier Milei, decreed seven days of mourning following the passing of Pope Francis.

"Pope Francis, Jorge Bergoglio, has passed away. Spiritual leader and guide to millions of men and women. The President of the Nation will decree seven days of mourning for the passing of the Holy Father. R.I.P.", expressed Adorni from his account on X (formerly Twitter).

During the mourning period, which will extend until Monday, April 28, the national flag will remain at half-mast in all public buildings in the country. Additionally, the suspension of official events scheduled for those days is expected.

The number of days of mourning is determined by the Government that decrees it, and doesn't imply that they are holidays: most work and daily activities continue as normal. Additionally, official events are suspended, except for those directly related to the Pope's passing.

Hours earlier, the Office of the President had confirmed the passing of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first Argentine pope and Latin American in the history of the Church. "The Office of the President regrets the passing of Pope Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who in 2013 became the first Argentine to lead the Catholic Church and guide it with dedication and love from the Vatican", expressed the statement.

"The Argentine Republic, a country with a long Catholic tradition and the land of Pope Francis, deeply mourns the departure of His Holiness and sends its condolences to the Bergoglio family. The President of the Nation stands with all those who profess the Catholic faith and found in the Supreme Pontiff a spiritual leader", adds the official message.

The Government's message concludes with heartfelt words: "President Javier Milei highlights the tireless struggle of Francis's Papacy to protect life from conception, promote interreligious dialogue, and bring spiritual and virtuous life closer to the youth. Additionally, he values his willingness to bring austerity to the Holy See with his pastoral gestures. Requiem aeternam dona ei Domine. Et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace".

The passing of Pope Francis

The Vatican confirmed the passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88 through a statement released via its official Telegram channel. The death occurred just one day after his last public appearance, when he addressed thousands of faithful from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica during Easter celebrations.

Before a crowd of 35,000 people gathered in the square, the Holy Father expressed: "There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and respect for others' opinions".

Francis had been recently discharged after a long hospitalization due to severe pneumonia that kept him hospitalized for 38 days. According to sources close to the Vatican, his health was fragile and he went through two critical moments during the last year.