Cardinals and archbishops from around the Pacific are gathering in Rome this weekend for Pope Francis' funeral, as tributes continue to pour in for the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

He passed away on Easter Monday, aged 88, after suffering a stroke and subsequent heart failure. Over one billion Catholics are mourning the loss of Pope Francis, who was born in Argentina.

World leaders and monarchs have arrived in Rome for the funeral at St Peter's Square.

Following Francis' death, the Vatican has started several official events, including a nine-day mourning period and preparations for the election of the church's next supreme leader.

Cardinal Sir John Ribat from Papua New Guinea and Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi from Tonga will represent the Pacific region in the upcoming Conclave, where cardinals will elect Pope Francis' successor.

The term "Conclave" comes from the Latin words "com" and "clavis," which mean "together" and "key," highlighting the private nature of the discussions and voting among the cardinals.

This time, participants from PNG and the Solomon Islands will have a say in selecting the new pope for the first time.

Ribat and Mafi, both appointed by Pope Francis as cardinals in 2016 and 2015, respectively, are among the 252 most senior church members, the College of Cardinals, which has been responsible for electing the pontiff for over 600 years.

Speaking to local media before he departed for the Vatican, Ribat expressed his pride at representing his country and the region.

Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on 17 December 1936. He died on Easter Monday, 21 April 2025, aged 88 after suffering a stroke and subsequent heart failure. Photo/Andrew Medichini

"The process to vote for a new pope is very sacred and very spiritual. We will be attending the funeral first, and then we will go to the conclave for the election. We will have no contact with the outside world until a new Pope is voted and the white smoke released.”

In Tonga, the Papal Flag was lowered to half-staff at Kāingafoʻou, Mafi’s residence in Vaolōloa, signalling the immense loss felt by Catholics in the island kingdom.

Vicar General Monsignor Lutoviko Fīnau told local media that the flag is customarily raised only during formal visits from the Vatican’s ambassador to Tonga.

He confirmed that Mafi, whom Pope Francis appointed a Cardinal in 2015, would represent Tonga at the Pope’s funeral in Rome.

Mafi and Ribat will join Cardinal John Dew of New Zealand and Cardinal Mykola Bychok from Australia - all four will represent Oceania in Rome.

Ribat also reflected on the late pope’s "important contributions" to PNG, such as his visit last September, Ribat's appointment as a cardinal, and the canonisation of Blessed Peter ToRot as Papua New Guinea’s first saint.

In a touching tribute, mourners in Port Moresby honoured the pope in traditional ways this week, including wearing mud and carrying pigs.

Pope Francis was known for highlighting the role of women in the Catholic Church, even taking time during his visit to PNG to emphasise their importance.

In 2016, Pope Francis elevated Ribat, then Archbishop of Port Moresby since 2008, to become PNG’s first cardinal, an appointment widely seen as an example of the pontiff reaching out to include leadership voices far from Rome.

Ribat was honoured with a knighthood the same year after being named in the Queen’s Birthday honours list.

Pacific Islands Forum pays tribute to Pope Francis

The Pacific Islands Forum and families and communities across the region express their condolences, describing Pope Francis as a voice for compassion, justice, and unity in a divided world.

In a joint statement, Forum chair and Prime Minister of Tonga Dr 'Aisake Eke, and Forum secretary-general Baron Waqa praised Francis' commitment to the vulnerable and his advocacy for protecting the environment, which aligns with the realities of climate change faced by Pacific island nations.

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Baron Waqa, left, meets with Tonga's Prime Minister and Forum Chair Dr 'Aisake Eke ahead of the Special Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Nuku'alofa last month. Photo/Office of Tonga PM

"His messages of peace and ecological justice resonated profoundly across the Pacific, where the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation are a lived reality."

In November 2017, Forum leaders met with the Pope in the Vatican, where he addressed the urgent challenges of climate change affecting the Pacific region.

"It was a message that continues to echo powerfully through our ongoing climate advocacy. The historic visit by His Holiness to Papua New Guinea and the Pacific left an indelible mark on our Pacific people.

"Speaking directly to our Pacific communities, His Holiness honoured the richness of our Pacific cultures and the strength of our spiritual traditions. He urged all leaders - political, community, and spiritual - to pursue peace, protect natural resources, and ensure that development truly benefits our people.

"We also remember His Holiness as a leader defined by empathy and humility. He was not only a spiritual guide but a moral compass - one who understood the intersection of science, faith, and humanity.

"In choosing the name Francis after the patron saint of ecology, His Holiness committed himself to a mission that spoke deeply to our region's values of stewardship, intergenerational equity, and oceanic identity."

Eke and Waqa say that the impact of Pope Francis' absence will be felt deeply across the Pacific.

They extended the Forum's heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community and those who mourn his passing, honouring the late pope "as a true friend to the Pacific - one who walked with us, listened to us, and inspired us to hope, care, and act for a better, more united world".

After a pope's funeral, the cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel (frescoed by Michelangelo Buonarroti) for the conclave to elect the new pontiff. The Sacred College of Cardinals votes several times until the Pope is elected. Photo/TheSistineChapel

The Catholic Conclave

Throughout its 200-year history, the Catholic Church has had 266 popes.

When a pope passes away, there is a period known as the "Interregnum", during which there is no pope. This period begins right after the pontiff's passing and ends when a new pope is elected.

The Conclave generally convenes 15 to 20 days after a pope's death. This period is also known as "sede vacante", which means "vacant seat" in Latin.

Pope Francis has been lying in state since Easter Monday. Following his death, a pope’s body is usually displayed for three to five days to allow people to pay their respects.

Watch the head of the Catholic Church in Fiji, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong's full interview on Pacific Mornings.

His funeral service and burial must occur between the fourth and sixth day after the pope’s death.

Out of respect for the late pope, the cardinals, who will choose his successor, generally wait until after the funeral to start making official decisions.

But it's likely that they have already started discussing what qualities they believe the next pope should have.

Pope Francis' funeral Mass will start at 10am, local time (8pm New Zealand time). The ceremony will begin with a choir singing traditional Latin rites, and a large crowd of tens of thousands is expected to gather in St Peter's Square. For live coverage of the pontiff's funeral, click here.

Pope Francis' open coffin is taken from his residence in Casa Santa Marta to St Peter's Basilica. His funeral will start at 8pm, NZ time, on Saturday 26 April. Photo/Alberto Pizzoli

After the funeral, Pope Francis will be buried in a simple tomb at St Mary Major Basilica instead of St Peter's Cathedral or its crypt, where many former popes rest.

He chose St Mary's Basilica for his burial because it is home to his favourite icon, the Virgin Mary, to whom he was deeply devoted. Pope Francis will be the first pope in over five centuries to be buried there.