Vatican publishes details of Pope Francis's funeral

The farewell ceremony with Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica. April 23, 2025. Photo: Vatican Media

The funeral mass for Pope Francis will take place on April 26, 2025, at 10:00 local time in the square in front of St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican. As reported by VaticanNews, the pontiff's body is currently in this basilica, where all who wish can pay their respects.

«the Funeral Liturgy will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. After the Eucharist, the rites of final farewell and blessing will be performed. Then the coffin of the Pope will be carried to St. Peter's Basilica, and from there to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial,» the statement says.

On the morning of April 23, a solemn ceremony was held in the Vatican to carry the remains of the newly departed pontiff from the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae to St. Peter's Basilica.

The body of the reposed Pope was displayed in an open coffin on the floor in front of the main altar. The cathedral will remain open until midnight for all who wish to pay respect to the newly departed Pope Francis. Tomorrow, the opening of the basilica is scheduled for 7 a.m., and closing at midnight.

On Friday, the day before the funeral, the cathedral will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.: on this day at 8 p.m., the Cardinal Camerlengo will lead the ceremony of closing Pope Francis's coffin according to the burial rites of Roman Popes (Nos. 66-81).

As reported by teh UOJ, Pope Francis died from the effects of a stroke on the morning of April 21 in his residence in the Vatican at the age of 88. He requested in his will that his funeral resemble more of a farewell to an ordinary Christian. According to his wishes, his body was displayed at St. Peter's Basilica not on a hearse outside the coffin, but in a coffin with the lid removed.

Leaders from various countries are expected to attend Pope Francis's funeral. Among them are U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, and others.

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