Following Presidential Order, All U.S. and Minnesota State Flags to Fly at Half Staff to Honor Pope Francis

(KNSI) — Following an order from President Donald Trump, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has ordered all U.S. and state flags to be flown at half staff in honor of Pope Francis, who died Monday morning at the age of 88.

In Walz’s order, he praised the late pontiff for leading by example and “centering his life and papacy on being a voice for the less fortunate. He inspired us all to better embody the teachings of Christ: love, compassion, and justice. Gwen and I are joining Catholics and Christians around the world in mourning his loss.”

Pope Francis served as the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 2013 to 2025 and made history as the first Latin American Pope. He was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17th, 1936. Vatican officials say he died of a stroke that led to heart failure. He had also been in the hospital for 38 days for treatment of double lung pneumonia.

Individuals, businesses, and other organizations are also encouraged to lower their flags. Flags will fly at half staff until sunset on Saturday, which is the day set for Pope Francis’s funeral.

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