The funeral follows a period of mourning after the pope's passing at the age of 88 on Easter Monday. Starting from Wednesday, his body will lie in an open casket at St. Peter's Basilica, allowing mourners to pay their respects.
Pope Francis' Funeral Set for Saturday in St. Peter's Square
Pope Francis' Funeral Set for Saturday in St. Peter's Square
The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis's funeral will be held on Saturday at 10:00 AM local time in front of St. Peter's Basilica.
Pope Francis's body currently rests in the Santa Marta residence chapel, with plans for a procession to St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday. This procession, led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, will transition from the chapel through St. Peter's Square, incorporating a moment of prayer beforehand. In a departure from tradition, there will be no private viewing for cardinals, honoring the late pope's wishes.
The official funeral service will commence at 10:00 AM on Saturday, led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, and will see participation from cardinals, bishops, and priests globally. It will conclude with a commendation, initiating a nine-day mourning period, after which Pope Francis will be buried at St. Mary Major basilica, marking a significant departure from tradition by not being interred within St. Peter's crypt.
With world leaders like US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron set to attend, the event is anticipated to attract a significant number of attendees and international media coverage.
Following the funeral, a conclave of cardinals will gather to elect Pope Francis's successor. The late pontiff, who was of Argentine descent, notably became the first Latin American pope in 2013 and remained a transformative figure for the Catholic Church until his passing, which came shortly after an Easter address in St. Peter’s Square.
The official funeral service will commence at 10:00 AM on Saturday, led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, and will see participation from cardinals, bishops, and priests globally. It will conclude with a commendation, initiating a nine-day mourning period, after which Pope Francis will be buried at St. Mary Major basilica, marking a significant departure from tradition by not being interred within St. Peter's crypt.
With world leaders like US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron set to attend, the event is anticipated to attract a significant number of attendees and international media coverage.
Following the funeral, a conclave of cardinals will gather to elect Pope Francis's successor. The late pontiff, who was of Argentine descent, notably became the first Latin American pope in 2013 and remained a transformative figure for the Catholic Church until his passing, which came shortly after an Easter address in St. Peter’s Square.
