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Papal Funeral Set for Saturday at Vatican City
Vatican City has announced that the funeral for Pope Francis will be held on Saturday at 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT) in St Peter’s Square, in front of St Peter’s Basilica.
Funeral Arrangements Finalized
The date of the ceremony was determined after a meeting of cardinals in Vatican City on Tuesday morning, convened to discuss the scheduling of the funeral rites.
Public Viewing to Commence Wednesday
Prior to the funeral mass, the body of Pope Francis will be placed in an open coffin inside St Peter’s Basilica starting Wednesday morning. This will allow members of the public and visiting dignitaries to pay their final respects to the deceased pontiff.
Global Tributes for the Pontiff
Following the passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday at the age of 88, messages of condolence and tributes have been received from across the globe.
Procession to St Peter’s Basilica
Currently, Pope Francis’s body is resting in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence, his home during his 12-year papacy.
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Transferring the Body
The transfer of his body from Santa Marta to St Peter’s Basilica will commence with a procession at 09:00 local time on Wednesday, according to Vatican officials.
Prayer Service Before Procession
Before the procession begins, a moment of prayer will be conducted by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo. The camerlengo assumes temporal authority over the Vatican upon the death of a pope.
Route of the Procession
Cardinal Farrell will lead the procession from Saint Martha’s Square to St Peter’s Square, culminating at the central doors of St Peter’s Basilica.
Liturgy of the Word and Public Access
After the procession enters the basilica, Cardinal Farrell will preside over the Liturgy of the Word. Following this, St Peter’s Basilica will open its doors to the public for viewing and to allow mourners to pay their respects.
Departures from Tradition
In a divergence from established customs, Pope Francis requested that there be no private viewing for cardinals. Furthermore, in another break with tradition, his coffin will not be elevated on a pedestal during the viewing.
Funeral Service Details
The Vatican confirmed that the funeral service will take place in St Peter’s Square on Saturday, commencing at 10:00 local time.
Service Leadership
The service itself will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals.
Global Clergy in Attendance
Numerous high-ranking clergy members, including patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, and priests from around the world, are expected to participate in the funeral mass.
Clergy Gathering Schedule
- 08:30: Archbishops and bishops will assemble in the Constantine Wing, adjacent to the basilica, in liturgical vestments with simple white miters.
- 08:30: Priests will gather in St Peter’s Square, wearing red stoles.
- 09:00: Patriarchs and cardinals will congregate in Saint Sebastian Chapel within the basilica, wearing white damask miters.
Concluding Rites
The service will conclude with the final commendation and valediction. This will mark the commencement of a nine-day mourning period for the Pope, according to reports from the Catholic news agency.
Burial at St Mary Major Basilica
Following the funeral, the pontiff’s body will be taken inside St Peter’s Basilica before being transported to St Mary Major Basilica in Rome for the burial.
Historic Burial Request
Pope Francis, known for his preference for simplicity, opted to scale back some of the traditional funerary grandeur. He requested to be interred at St Mary Major Basilica, rather than in the papal crypt of St Peter’s Basilica. This decision makes him the first pope in over a century to not be buried in St Peter’s.
Simple Coffin
Further reflecting his wishes for simplicity, he also requested to be buried in a single wooden casket, a contrast to his predecessors who were traditionally buried in three nested coffins.
Expected Global Attendance
The funeral is anticipated to attract vast crowds from across the globe.
World Leaders Expected
Numerous heads of state and members of royalty are expected to travel to Italy for the event. Among the dignitaries who have already confirmed their attendance are US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Images of Pope Released
The announcement of the funeral followed the release of official Vatican images showing the Pope’s body in a wooden coffin. He was depicted wearing a red robe, a papal mitre, and holding a rosary.
Conclave to Elect Successor
Subsequent to the funeral, a conclave of cardinals will convene to elect Pope Francis’s successor. The dean of the College of Cardinals is tasked with summoning the cardinals to Rome within 15 to 20 days after the Pope’s burial.
Pope Francis’s Death
Pope Francis passed away due to a stroke on Monday. His death occurred less than 24 hours after he made an appearance in a wheelchair in St Peter’s Square to deliver an Easter address to thousands of worshippers.
Recent Health Issues
His death followed a period of declining health, including a five-week hospitalization for double pneumonia.
Legacy of the First Latin American Pope
Born in Argentina, Pope Francis made history when he was elected in 2013 as the first ever Latin American pope.