Vatican City, April 22, 2025: The Vatican has announced that the funeral for Pope Francis, who passed away at 88 on Sunday following a stroke and heart failure, will take place on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the ceremony.
In a departure from tradition, the Pope’s final resting place will not be within the Vatican grottoes but at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, in accordance with his wishes. He had long emphasized humility and a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary.
Starting Wednesday, public viewing of Pope Francis’ body will be held at St. Peter’s Basilica, giving the faithful an opportunity to pay their last respects. The viewing will continue through Friday.
A nine-day mourning period known as novendiali has begun, during which the College of Cardinals will conduct prayers and make preparations for the upcoming conclave to elect the new pope. The conclave is expected to commence in early May.
World leaders have begun confirming their attendance at the funeral. Among them are U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and King Charles III of the United Kingdom.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, led the Church for over a decade. He was known for modernizing its image, championing environmental causes, and reaching out to marginalized communities. His death marks the end of a deeply influential era for the Catholic Church.
