In brief
Pope Francis’ funeral Mass is set to occur on Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, drawing an assembly of international dignitaries, clergy, and the faithful from across the globe. His body, adorned in papal vestments, will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica until the rites commence.
The Vatican has confirmed the funeral will occur at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. Eastern). Major news outlets, including The New York Times, NBC, CBS, ABC, and CNN, will provide live coverage, alongside international broadcasters like BBC. The ceremony will also be streamed live on the Vatican's YouTube channel.The service will observe traditional rites, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, but will reflect Pope Francis’ desire for simplicity; his funeral will be less elaborate than those of past popes. Notably, he reformed the papal funeral customs last year, opting for a single wooden coffin instead of the usual three. Following the funeral Mass, his remains will be laid to rest at the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, fulfilling his wish for a modest burial site inscribed simply with “Franciscus.” A period of mourning will follow the funeral, with churches across Rome conducting Masses in his memory for nine days. Expected attendees include a range of global leaders, such as President Trump, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, Argentina's President Javier Milei, and Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, among others.Isabella Kwai reports on this significant event, highlighting the impact of Pope Francis' legacy on the Catholic Church and beyond.
