Alabama-based EWTN, the world’s largest Catholic TV network, has jumped into full coverage of the death of the pope, the expected nine days of mourning and the coming conclave to pick a new pope by next month.

The EWTN Global Catholic Network, founded in Irondale in 1981 by Mother Angelica, released a statement mourning the death of Pope Francis, who passed away at 88 years old at 7:35 a.m. Rome time on Monday, April 21, 2025.

The network immediately turned its programming to a lineup honoring the life of Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, including Masses, rosaries, and devotions. All events from St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican, as well as the Holy Father’s funeral Mass will be carried in real time on EWTN’s television channels, live on YouTube, and through its on-demand app and digital platforms, the network said.

“The death of Pope Francis is a moment of personal grief for Catholics around the world,” said EWTN CEO Michael P. Warsaw. “Together with our entire EWTN Family, I mourn his passing and join the Church in prayers for the repose of his soul.”

Warsaw reflected on his personal meetings with Pope Francis.

“I was privileged to be able to meet Pope Francis a number of times throughout the years and was always struck by his kindness and good humor in our encounters,” Warsaw said. “As Catholics, we thank God for the life and pontificate of Pope Francis, and in particular for his tireless advocacy for those on the peripheries.”

EWTN will recap the pope’s life and ministry in its coverage.

“As part of our service to the Church in this moment, EWTN will air programming to honor Pope Francis’s life and legacy as well as coverage of the many devotions and Masses from the Vatican, including the Holy Father’s funeral Mass,” Warsaw said. “We invite our global audience to join us in this period of mourning. May God have mercy on His servant and grant him eternal rest.”

EWTN already had a spotlight on the Vatican during Holy Week and Easter. The pope died within 24 hours of celebrating Easter publicly at St. Peter’s Square, including a ride in the popemobile amidst thousands of pilgrims.

“Pope Francis wrestled publicly with his declining health over the past several months and emphasized the value of the elderly and infirm with his personal witness,” said EWTN News President Montse Alvarado. “His legacy will include many ‘firsts’ for the papacy: the first from Latin America, the first Jesuit. Most significantly, he bridged the gap between old and new forms of communication— he was our first digital Pope.”

EWTN has a bureau in Rome.

“This will be an international effort by EWTN over the coming weeks,” said EWTN Vice President of Programming and Production Peter Gagnon. “We will be on the ground in Rome covering the Masses, lying in state, and the funeral, and EWTN will offer specials about Pope Francis and the papacy. Later, EWTN will transition to prayer for the future of the Church as we provide coverage of the conclave and the Papal inauguration.”

Coverage will be available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, German, Hungarian, and Polish from EWTN’s studios in the Vatican and affiliates worldwide.

For details on EWTN’s coverage, resources on what happens when a Pope dies, and continuous updates on programming, go to https://ewtn.com/interregnum or visit EWTN on Instagram, X, Facebook, and YouTube. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/everywhere.