Centuries of experience dealing with the death, or occasional resignation, of a pope has left the Catholic Church with thorough instructions detailing who has responsibility for planning the funeral, preparing for the election of a new pope and taking care of essential business in the meantime.

Here is a timeline of some significant events in Pope Francis’ 12-year pontificate:

President Donald Trump, officials in his administration and other U.S. political leaders issued statements expressing condolences for Pope Francis after the pontiff’s death April 21 at age 88.

A special Mass remembering the late pontiff will be held April 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. Pope Francis died earlier that day at the age of 88.

Bishop Adam J. Parker and  Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., both of whom were appointed bishops by Pope Francis, are remembering their personal encounters with the late pope as inspirational moments that helped shape their ministries. 

Archbishop William E. Lori said that Pope Francis could be readily described as a “pastoral pope,” a sense of service that he brought from his years as an archbishop in Argentina who was close to his priests and people.

Pope Francis’ funeral rites, like those for any pope or any Christian, are meant to “reinforce the hope and witness to the faith” that those who have been baptized in Christ “will rise with him to new life.”

Pope Francis, who died April 21 at age 88, “will long be remembered for his outreach to those on the margins of the Church and of society,” Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement shared in the first hours after the pope’s death.

With the death of Pope Francis, the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, which was scheduled for April 27, has been postponed.

U.S. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, the “camerlengo” or chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, announced to the world that Pope Francis had died April 21 at the age of 88.