Pope Francis's funeral is scheduled for Saturday at St Peter's Basilica, with tributes pouring in following his death at age 88. His body will lie in state starting Wednesday, allowing mourners to pay their respects. Notably, the Pope requested a simpler burial arrangement than his predecessors, opting for a single wooden casket and burial at St Mary Major instead of St Peter's crypt.
Funeral Arrangements for Pope Francis Announced as Mourners Prepare to Pay Respects
Funeral Arrangements for Pope Francis Announced as Mourners Prepare to Pay Respects
The Vatican reveals the schedule for the late Pope Francis's funeral, which will take place on Saturday, as tributes flood in from around the world.
Pope Francis's funeral will take place on Saturday at 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT) in front of St Peter's Basilica, according to an announcement by the Vatican. The decision regarding the date was made after cardinals convened in Vatican City on Tuesday. Starting Wednesday morning, the Pope's body will lie in an open casket in St Peter's Basilica, allowing mourners to pay their respects to the deceased pontiff.
Tributes have been received from across the globe since Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88. Currently, his body rests in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence, where he lived throughout his 12-year papacy. The Vatican has stated that his body will be transported from Santa Marta to St Peter's basilica during a procession starting at 09:00 local time on Wednesday. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the acting camerlengo, will lead a moment of prayer before guiding the procession to the basilica.
In a departure from tradition, there will not be a private viewing for cardinals, as requested by Pope Francis himself. Additionally, the Pope's coffin will not be placed on a pedestal during the viewing. The funeral service on Saturday will be conducted in St Peter's Square and is expected to be attended by a broad range of dignitaries, including heads of state and religious leaders from around the world.
The Holy See has announced that the service will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who is the dean of the College of Cardinals. By 08:30, bishops and archbishops will assemble in the Constantine Wing near the basilica, dressed in liturgical attire. At 09:00, patriarchs and cardinals will gather in Saint Sebastian Chapel to prepare for the service.
Following the ceremony, a valediction will mark the commencement of nine days of mourning for the Pope. His body will then be transported inside the church and taken to St Mary Major basilica in Rome for interment. Pope Francis notably chose to be buried in St Mary Major, the first pope in over a century not to rest in the crypt of St Peter's Basilica, and has requested a simpler burial with a single wooden casket instead of the customary three nested ones.
The gathering is anticipated to draw large crowds, with various state and royal leaders planning to attend. Notable attendees include US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. The announcement of the funeral arrangements follows the release of official images showing the Pope lying in a wooden coffin, dressed in a red robe and holding a rosary.
After the funeral, a conclave of cardinals will convene to elect a successor. Cardinal Farrell has a period of 15 to 20 days within which to summon the cardinals for this purpose, once the Pope is buried. Pope Francis's death, attributed to a stroke shortly after he made a public appearance during the Easter weekend, marks the end of his impactful papacy, during which he became the first Latin American pope upon his election in 2013.
