A conclave to choose a new pope normally takes place 15 to 20 days after the death of a pontiff, meaning this conclave should not start before May 6.

Pope Francis died quickly on Monday morning from an unexpected stroke without suffering undue pain, and there was nothing that doctors could have done to save his life, the head of the pontiff's medical team said in interviews published on Thursday.

Tourists who have booked to visit Rome in the coming weeks will experience the city during a rare historical moment. Following the death of Pope Francis on 21 April, a series of religious rituals and procedures are being enacted that might impact travel plans.

The faithful will be flocking to Rome to honor the death of Pope Francis, with his funeral scheduled for Saturday April 26. While the city is heavily booked out, there are still ways to visit affordably.

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. Here are the key things to know about the death of the Argentine pontiff, history's first from Latin America, who presided over the Catholic Church for more than 12 years.