The funeral of Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88, is set for Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square. The Mass, to be celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, will mark the final farewell to the first Latin American pope, whose 12-year papacy was defined by humility and advocacy for the marginalized. The ceremony will blend centuries-old traditions with the simpler rites Francis requested, reflecting his lifelong rejection of grandeur.
The Vatican announced the plans after cardinals convened on Tuesday to organize the funeral and the nine-day mourning period, known as Novemdiales. On Wednesday, April 23, at 9 a.m., Francis’s body, dressed in red liturgical vestments and a white miter, will be carried from his Casa Santa Marta residence to St. Peter’s Basilica in a procession for public viewing. The body, placed in a single wooden coffin lined with zinc, will remain accessible to the faithful until Saturday morning. Per Francis’s 2024 revisions to papal funeral rites, the open casket will rest at ground level, not on a raised platform, emphasizing his identity as a pastor.
The funeral Mass, expected to draw millions, will be held outdoors in St. Peter’s Square, weather permitting. Heads of state, including those from the United States, Argentina, Brazil, and Ukraine, are anticipated to attend, alongside pilgrims from across the globe. The service, primarily in Latin and lasting approximately two and a half hours, will incorporate updated prayers approved by Francis, including references to saints he canonized during his pontificate.
Following the Mass, a white cloth will be placed over Francis’s face, and the coffin will be sealed with a bag of coins minted during his papacy and a rogito, a document chronicling his tenure. Departing from tradition, Francis will be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, not St. Peter’s Basilica, marking the first papal burial there since 1669. Francis frequently visited the basilica’s Salus Populi Romani icon after international trips, making it a fitting resting place. The coffin will be transported through Rome in a procession involving the Swiss Guards, though simplified per Francis’s wishes, before interment at the basilica.
The rites began on Monday when Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, formally certified Francis’s death, attributed to a stroke, coma, and heart failure, according to the Vatican’s death certificate. The Fisherman’s Ring, a symbol of papal authority, was destroyed to prevent misuse, and the papal apartments were sealed. The Vatican has maintained a somber atmosphere, with public viewings organized to accommodate mourners until the funeral.
In addition to the funeral preparations, the Vatican is organizing the conclave to elect Francis’s successor, scheduled for May 6–11. Approximately 130 cardinals under the age of 80 will gather in the Sistine Chapel to vote, requiring a two-thirds majority to select the next pope. The conclave’s timing ensures the mourning period concludes, allowing the Church to transition to new leadership.
The funeral will cap a week of global tributes, with Masses held in cities from Manila to Buenos Aires honoring Francis’s legacy. The Vatican expects significant crowds, comparable to the four million who attended Pope John Paul II’s 2005 funeral, though Francis’s preference for modesty will shape a less elaborate affair. The single wooden coffin, forgoing the traditional three-casket setup of cypress, lead, and elm, underscores his commitment to simplicity, a hallmark of his papacy.
St. Peter’s Square will serve as the focal point for mourners, with the Vatican coordinating security and logistics to manage the influx of visitors. The burial at St. Mary Major will conclude the rites, closing a chapter for a pope who reshaped the Church’s outreach to the poor and marginalized. As the world prepares to bid farewell, Saturday’s ceremony will stand as a testament to Francis’s vision of a humble, servant-led Church.