JUST NOW: Pope Francis’ Burial Arrangements and Funeral Date Announced: A Historic Farewell to a Transformative Pontiff…….Read More

Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, due to complications from a stroke and heart failure, following a period of respiratory illness and pneumonia citeturn0news13. His death marked the end of a transformative 12-year papacy, during which he became the first Latin American pope and was renowned for his emphasis on humility, social justice, and reform within the Catholic Church.

In accordance with his wishes, Pope Francis’s funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 a.m. local time in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City . Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the Requiem Mass . The ceremony will include the traditional rites of Ultima commendatio and Valedictio, marking the beginning of the nine-day mourning period known as Novendiale

Pope Francis had expressed a desire for a simplified funeral, leading to significant changes in the traditional papal rites . Departing from the customary triple coffin of cypress, lead, and oak, he will be interred in a single, zinc-lined wooden casket . Additionally, his body will not be displayed on a raised platform (catafalque) but will lie in repose within the coffin for public viewing

Breaking with centuries of tradition, Pope Francis will be the first pope since Leo XIII in 1903 to be buried outside the Vatican . He chose the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome as his final resting place, reflecting his deep devotion to the Virgin Mary . The burial site is located between the Pauline Chapel and the Sforza Chapel within the basilica

The funeral is expected to draw numerous international dignitaries and religious leaders . Confirmed attendees include Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva . Representatives from various royal families and global faith communities are also anticipated to attend

For those wishing to pay their respects, Pope Francis’s body will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica from Wednesday, April 23, through Friday, April 25 . The funeral service will be broadcast live on major networks and streaming platforms, including the BBC News Channel, Sky News, Vatican platforms, and BBC iPlayer