Understanding the Papal Funeral: What You Need to Know

April 25, 2025 TruthUSA

The funeral of Pope Francis is scheduled to take place on April 26 at 10 a.m. local time, 4 a.m. ET, at St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by his burial in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

Pope Francis’s coffin was sealed at approximately 8 p.m. local time on April 25, after a period of three days during which over 100,000 mourners waited in line to pay their respects at St. Peter’s Basilica.

The coffin of the late Catholic pontiff was closed in a special ritual led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Catholic Church, as part of the preparations for the funeral on April 26.

Pope Francis’s Funeral and Burial Schedule

Francis’s funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. local time, 4 a.m. ET, on the parvis, the area outside St. Peter’s Basilica with steps.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, will lead the funeral Mass, with the possibility of other cardinals, patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops assisting.

It is expected that the event will last longer than a typical Catholic Mass, which usually lasts about an hour.

Previous funerals for popes have lasted several hours, with Pope Benedict XVI’s funeral in 2022 lasting around two hours and Pope St. John Paul II’s funeral in 2005 lasting over 2 1/2 hours.

The Mass will include a procession of the cardinals, Bible readings, a homily, the Eucharist liturgy, and concluding with the Ultimo Commendation and Valedictio—the final prayers and farewell, formally entrusting the deceased to God.

After the Mass, Pope Francis’s body will be moved to the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major, where a tomb has been prepared for him near the Altar of St. Francis.

The burial ceremony will be led by Farrell and other officials, including Re, Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Cardinal Baldassare Reina.

How to Watch the Funeral

The funeral will be live-streamed on various media platforms, including the Vatican’s news network. Coverage is set to begin at 3:30 a.m. ET, with replays available later.

Who Will Attend the Funeral?

Along with cardinals, clergy, and Vatican officials, current and former world leaders are expected to attend, including U.S. President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, President Sergio Mattarella, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Thousands are also expected to gather within the Basilica and St. Peter’s Square.

Seating and standing areas have been designated in St. Peter’s Square, and a large crowd is anticipated along the three-mile procession route to St. Mary Major.

The Vatican has stated that special consideration will be given to the poor and needy alongside the rich and powerful.

“‘The poor have a special place in God’s heart.’ So too in the heart and Magisterium of the Holy Father, who chose the name Francis so as to never forget them,” the Holy See Press Office said in a statement.

“For this reason, a group of poor and needy people will be present on the steps leading to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major to pay their last respects to Pope Francis before the interment of the coffin.”

What Comes Next

The day of the pope’s funeral and burial marks the beginning of the Novendiali, a nine-day period of mourning and prayer. Each day will feature a public Eucharist celebration involving a group linked to the pontiff.

Following the nine days, Farrell will gather the College of Cardinals in conclave within Vatican City to pray, discern, and elect a new pope. This conclave is expected to commence as early as the week of May 5.

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