The funeral of Pope Francis is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, five days after his passing on April 21 at the age of 88. The late pontiff died from a stroke and heart failure.
The Vatican released solemn images on Tuesday, showing the late pontiff dressed in red liturgical robes, with a mitre and rosary in hand, resting peacefully in an open coffin.
When Pope Francis' funeral will be held?
Pope Francis’s funeral is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, at 10am local time (9am UK time).
On Monday, his body was placed in a coffin and laid in repose at the chapel of the Santa Marta residence, where he lived within the Vatican. It will be transferred to St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday at 9am UK time for public viewing, giving mourners a chance to pay their final respects.
Public viewing details for Pope Francis' funeral
The funeral of Pope Francis will be broadcast live across major global news networks, including BBC News and Sky News, allowing viewers worldwide to follow the proceedings on Saturday.
Vatican Media will provide a live stream via YouTube and its official platforms, while local Catholic news outlets are also expected to carry coverage of the event.
There are some of the key stages observed from the time of a pope’s death to his burial. Here's a closer look at each.
Private Chapel
Following Pope Francis's passing, his final journey unfolds in three key stages — his private residence, St. Peter’s Basilica, and finally, his burial site.
The official confirmation of death now takes place in the chapel of his residence, not the bedroom. After the Vatican's health chief confirms the cause of death, the Pope’s body is prepared and dressed in red liturgical robes with traditional symbols like the mitre and pallium.
The body first rests in his personal chapel, where the camerlengo formally pronounces his death. Unlike past traditions, his coffin is now made of wood with a zinc lining inside, replacing the old three-layer design.
Once these rites are completed, the Pope’s coffin is moved to St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing, where the faithful can come to pay their final respects.
Mortal remains placed in St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing
As the pope’s body is brought into St. Peter’s Basilica, the Litany of Saints is chanted, with the camerlengo leading the procession. In a departure from tradition, the pope’s body is now placed in a simple wooden coffin facing the pews, accompanied by the Paschal candle, instead of being elevated on a bier.
Cardinals have announced that the public viewing of Pope Francis will start on Wednesday at St. Peter’s Basilica.
The coffin is then sealed
The night before Pope Francis’s funeral, the camerlengo and senior cardinals seal the coffin, placing a white cloth over his face. Inside, a bag of coins minted during his papacy and a written record of his papacy are included.
This document, called a “rogito,” is read aloud before being sealed in a tube and placed in the coffin. Francis’s papal coat of arms and a cross are inscribed on the coffins, with his coat of arms featuring the Jesuit monogram and the Latin phrase, “Miserando atque eligendo,” meaning “Having had mercy, he called him.”
The funeral and burial
The funeral is led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, or another senior cardinal if necessary. Pope Francis’s reforms allow for burial outside the Vatican, with the camerlengo overseeing the process.
The coffin is sealed and placed in the tomb. Following the burial, the Catholic Church enters nine days of official mourning, known as the “novemdiales,” and the conclave for choosing a new pope begins.
Election of new Pope
After the pope's funeral, the Catholic Church enters a phase called Sede Vacante, meaning “the seat is vacant.” During this time, the College of Cardinals handles day-to-day matters but cannot make major decisions.
About two to three weeks later, the conclave begins. Only cardinals under 80 are allowed to vote — they gather in the Sistine Chapel and vote in secret until a new pope is chosen by a two-thirds majority.
Smoke signals from the chapel indicate progress: black for no decision, white when a new pope has been elected. Once chosen, the new pope puts on the white papal robes, picks a name, and is presented to the world with the words, “Habemus papam” — “We have a pope.”
(With agency inputs)
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