The announcement of the death of Pope Francis by the Vatican sets the stage for the choosing of the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Pope Francis died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday.
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected to lead the church in March 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI stood down.
Following a vacancy in the papacy, the Cardinals hold a series of meetings at the Vatican called general congregations.
They prepare for the upcoming papal election, called a conclave. Decisions that only the pope can make, such as appointing a bishop or convening the Synod of Bishops, must wait till after the election.
On previous occasions, they made arrangements for the funeral and burial of the deceased pope.
