Dignitaries, including royals and presidents, will be present amongst numerous mourners attending Pope Francis' funeral service.
Pope Francis' Funeral: A Historic Event in St. Peter's Square
Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88 following a stroke, will be laid to rest at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, marking the first time in over a century that a pope will be buried outside the Vatican.
The funeral ceremony, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, in St. Peter's Square. The service will last 90 minutes, a significant reduction from the three-hour service for Pope John Paul II.
Mourners have been camping out overnight to secure spots at the front of the crowd, and it is expected that they will fill the vast esplanade and main access route to the basilica. Italy has closed the airspace over the city and called in extra forces for the security operations, one of the biggest since the funeral of John Paul II.
As the funeral procession makes its way through the city, Romans will have one last opportunity to say their farewell to Pope Francis. The pope's funeral motorcade will drive him through the city, culminating at the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
Pope Francis, during his 12-year reign, battled to reshape the Roman Catholic Church, siding with the poor and marginalized, and challenging wealthy nations to help migrants and reverse climate change. His funeral will reflect his simple and humble nature, as he will be placed in a single, zinc-lined wooden coffin, instead of the elaborate caskets used in the past.
A reproduction of the simple, iron-plated cross Pope Francis used to wear around his neck will hang above the marble slab of his tomb, bearing the inscription "Franciscus", his name in Latin.
The Roman Catholic Church, with 1.4 billion members, is undergoing a period of transition after Pope Francis' death. Attention will switch to who might succeed him after his burial. The secretive conclave to elect a successor is unlikely to begin before May 6, giving cardinals time to hold regular meetings beforehand.
It is believed that the likely successor chosen in the conclave will be Robert Prevost, who took the papal name Leo XIV; he was elected on May 8, 2025, and officially installed on May 18, 2025.
Over the past three days, around 250,000 people have filed past Pope Francis' body. The pope's funeral Mass and burial will mark the end of a historic reign and the beginning of a new chapter for the Roman Catholic Church.
Notable attendees at the funeral will include US President Donald Trump. Pope Francis and Trump clashed on numerous occasions over their starkly contrasting positions on immigration. Despite their differences, it is a testament to Pope Francis' impact that leaders from around the world will gather to pay their respects.
