Death of Pope Francis: the Eiffel Tower will be extinguished tonight in tribute

Paris pays tribute to the pontiff... On Monday April 21, 2025, Anne Hidalgo announced that the Eiffel Tower would be switched off that evening, in tribute to Pope Francis, who died that same day at the age of 88. This decision, announced in the morning by the Mayor of Paris, is part of a series of official and religious tributes organized in the capital throughout the day. As on the occasion of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, or for the victims of Hamas on October 7, the Iron Lady will briefly disappear from the Parisian landscape to mark the occasion.

In a statement, Anne Hidalgo expresses her " profound sadness " and pays tribute to the pontiff's memory. " Since 2013, Pope Francis has never ceased to embody a universal message of solidarity, peace and humanity," she writes. It also emphasizes " his commitment to a Church that reaches out to the most vulnerable, his fight for human dignity, especially for those who have nothing, will have marked our time ". The Pope's message on ecology is also mentioned: " a message that resonates strongly in our city ".

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In addition to the symbolic tribute at the Eiffel Tower, a series of religious ceremonies were held at Notre-Dame de Paris. At noon, a mass was celebrated, preceded by the ringing of bells 88 times, in reference to the age of the late pope, followed by a 23-minute bell concert. A further mass is scheduled for 6pm, followed by a vigil at 7pm, according to information from the diocese.

The Mayor of Paris also announced her intention to propose that a place in the capital be named after Francis, along the lines of the John Paul II square established in 2006. " May his universal message continue to inspire generations to come ", concludes Anne Hidalgo in her press release, sending her condolences " to the Catholics of Paris, France and the whole world ".

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