Photography: Holy See Press Office
By Staff Writer with Vatican Correspondent Lucia Martelli
ROME – The Vatican has officially confirmed that the funeral of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, will be held this Saturday, April 26, in an outdoor ceremony in St. Peter’s Square. The Holy See also released the first images of the late pontiff’s body, lying in repose in a simple wooden coffin inside the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta.
Dressed in liturgical vestments, Pope Francis appeared serene in the open casket, with Swiss Guards standing solemnly on either side. The poignant photographs mark the beginning of a week steeped in mourning and ritual, as the Catholic Church prepares to lay its beloved leader to rest.
Funeral Details and Ancient Rituals Begin
The funeral Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, in a service that is expected to draw global dignitaries and thousands of the faithful. The Mass will be concelebrated by Church leaders from every continent — Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and priests — underscoring Francis’ profound influence as a global spiritual figure.
Following the Eucharistic celebration, the Cardinal Dean will offer the final commendation — the “Ultima commendatio” — and the “Valedictio,” marking the formal farewell to the pope and beginning the traditional Novemdiales, nine days of mourning and Masses for the repose of his soul.
After the funeral, the late pontiff’s body will be taken to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, as per his wishes, for entombment in a modest underground crypt. Francis, noted throughout his life for his humility and preference for simplicity, had requested that only the word “Franciscus” be inscribed on his tomb.
Wednesday Morning Procession to St. Peter’s Basilica
At 9:00 AM on Wednesday, April 23, Pope Francis’s coffin will be carried in a solemn procession from Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of translation, beginning with a prayer ceremony in the square of the Roman Protomartyrs.
The procession will pass through Santa Marta Square, exit through the Arch of the Bells, and enter the basilica through the central door. At the Altar of the Confession, Cardinal Farrell will lead the Liturgy of the Word, after which the faithful may visit and pay their respects.
A World in Mourning, A Church in Transition
Cardinals gathered Tuesday at the Vatican to begin organizing the funeral and preparing for the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope. The death of Pope Francis, who led the Church for 12 years, has set into motion a centuries-old sequence of rituals — including the ceremonial breaking of the Fisherman’s Ring and papal seal, ensuring no documents can be fraudulently signed in his name.
Italian Cardinal Fernando Filoni, attending the first Congregation of Cardinals, emphasized the spiritual dimension of this moment. “The most important thing is prayer,” he told reporters. “Let us accompany the pope with our prayers.”
Global Leaders to Attend Funeral
World leaders are expected to descend on Rome in the coming days to honor Pope Francis. Among the first to confirm attendance were former U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, despite their past political tensions with the Vatican over immigration policy. Javier Milei, president of Argentina, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy are also expected, according to sources within their respective offices.
The Holy See initially suggested the funeral would occur on either Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, before officially confirming Saturday as the chosen day.
Legacy of a Reforming Pontiff
Pope Francis passed away from a stroke and subsequent heart failure, following a five-week hospitalization earlier this year for double pneumonia. Despite his declining health, he had returned to the Vatican in March and made his final public appearance on Easter Sunday.
Francis’s papacy was marked by efforts to reform the Church, promote dialogue between faiths, protect migrants and the marginalized, and address climate change. His impact, both spiritual and political, will continue to shape the Church long after his burial.
As the world bids farewell, Pope Francis will be remembered not only as the first Latin American pontiff, but as a shepherd of the people, who strove to bring the Church closer to the lives of ordinary men and women.
Reporting by Vatican Correspondent Lucia Martelli
Photography: Holy See Press Office
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