Vatican broadcasting live Pope Francis's funeral in 15 languages

The square in front of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, April 26, 2025. Photo: a screenshot from the live broadcast of vaticannews.

On April 26, 2025, at 10:00 local time (11:00 Kyiv time, - Ed.), a requiem mass for Pope Francis is held in the square in front of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, reports the VaticanNews website.

From noon on Wednesday to noon on Friday, approximately 150,000 pilgrims paid their respects to the pontiff at St. Peter's Basilica.

On the morning of April 25, the VI General Congregation of Cardinals took place in the Synod Hall, attended by 149 hierarchs. At the end of the meeting, Monsignor Diego Ravelli, head of the Papal Liturgical Office, stated that the funeral of Pope Francis would be conducted as a farewell to a pastor rather than a monarch. His remains will not rest on a catafalque.

According to the Rome police prefecture, on April 26, at least 140,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square.

The funeral liturgy will be led by 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.

After the service in the Vatican, the funeral procession – bypassing St. Peter's Square – will head to the Roman Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore through the Perugino arch, along the central street Corso Vittorio Emanuele, passing by the Roman Forum and near the Colosseum. Throughout the procession, which will take about half an hour, pilgrims and residents of the capital will be able to see the coffin of Pope Francis along the streets and bid farewell to him. The burial ceremony in the Marian basilica will be held privately.

About 160 delegations from around the world have arrived for the funeral, including dozens of world leaders, such as President Donald Trump, President Volodymyr Zelensky, and others.

The Vatican media prepared live broadcasts in 15 languages (Italian, English, Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, German, Polish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Arabic, and 4 sign languages – Italian, Spanish, French, American). Television coverage, conducted by Centro Televisivo Vaticano - Vatican Media, will be carried out from the air and on the ground, covering both St. Peter's Square and the entire funeral procession of the papal coffin to the Marian basilica.

As reported by the 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 in St. Peter's Cathedral not on a catafalque outside the coffin, but in a coffin with the lid removed.

Earlier, the Vatican published details of Pope Francis's funeral.

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