Brits planning to travel to Italy have been issued a warning by the Foreign Office following the death of the Pope. Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 in the early hours of Easter Monday (April 21).

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has since updated its travel advice for Italy. It warns that “large crowds” are expected in Rome and the Vatican City in the coming days.

Travellers are therefore urged to “follow the advice of local authorities”. As reported by Vatican News, the Pope’s cause of death was recorded as a stroke, followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.

He had a prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and type II diabetes.

Francis, who became Pope in 2013, had experienced a string of health worries in recent years.

This included spending 38 days in hospital in February and March this year. However, he recovered enough to leave hospital and on Easter Sunday was greeting crowds in St Peter's Square, in what was his final public appearance.

Announcing the death, Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in a statement released by the Vatican: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7.35am this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. 

“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values ​​of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.

"With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God."

Cardinals met this morning to decide on the date for Pope Francis's funeral, which will take place on Saturday, 26 April at 10am local time. The process for choosing a new pope typically takes place between 15 and 20 days after the death of a pontiff.

Further to this, the FCDO had also previously warned that Rome could be busier than usual this year due to Holy Year celebrations. It said: “The Jubilee, known as the Holy Year, will take place in Rome from 24 December 2024 to 6 January 2026.

“The city is expected to be very busy, particularly when the bigger events take place including the Opening of the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica on 24 December 2024.”

If you are planning to travel to Rome during this time, you are urged to check the FCDO advice online. It adds: “Transport routes around the city will be very busy. Local authorities may ask you to enter or leave by specific routes.”

The FCDO says people should make sure to plan your journey, and leave plenty of time, particularly during large events.