Kerala Announces State Mourning Following Pope Francis' Death

The Kerala state has announced a three-day state mourning after the death of Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88. The government of Kerala announced that the National Flag will be hoisted half-mast on all government buildings during the period of mourning and there will be no state-sponsored entertainment or celebrations.

According to an official directive, Kerala will mark two days of state mourning on April 22 and 23, in accordance with the instruction made by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The government has directed District Collectors to make sure all offices where the national flag is typically displayed observe the half-mast procedure.

India Observes National Mourning

The MHA also declared a three-day national mourning to pay respect to the deceased Pope. In the statement, "His Holiness Pope Francis, Supreme Pontiff of the Holy See, died on April 21. As a token of respect, a three-day state mourning will be observed in India." These are two days on Tuesday and Wednesday, and one more day on the day of the funeral of the Pope.

The Vatican announced that Pope Francis passed away due to a stroke and heart failure. Pope Francis, born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was the first non-European Pope in more than 1,300 years and was elected as the 266th pope on March 13. The pope opted for the name "Francis" in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, who preached peace, maintained compassion for the poor, and loved nature.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi added his voice to world leaders mourning. "Pope Francis will be remembered for his compassion, humility, and spiritual strength. Even in his youth, he worked tirelessly to follow the path of Christ," PM Modi posted on social media, remembering meeting the Pope.