Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. His death followed complications from a stroke and heart failure, after a recent hospitalization for pneumonia. His final public appearance was during Easter Sunday, where he delivered a blessing from the popemobile. Wikipedia+3Latest news & breaking headlines+3Axios+3AP News+1Latest news & breaking headlines+1
The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis’s funeral will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 a.m. local time in St. Peter’s Square. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will preside over the funeral Mass. Following the ceremony, his coffin will be taken to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome for burial, in accordance with his wishes. The Guardian+4The Guardian+4AP News+4
In a departure from tradition, Pope Francis will be the first pontiff in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican. He chose the Basilica of St. Mary Major due to his deep devotion to the Virgin Mary, having visited the basilica over 100 times during his papacy. This decision reflects his commitment to humility and simplicity. International Business Times UK+1U.S. News & World Report+1The Guardian+8Catholic News Agency+8International Business Times UK+8U.S. News & World Report+3eCatholic Teachings+3RNS+3
Pope Francis had previously approved revisions to the papal funeral rites to emphasize the pastoral role of the pope as a disciple of Christ. These changes include the elimination of the traditional three-coffin system and the use of a single, zinc-lined wooden coffin. Additionally, his body will not be displayed on a raised platform (catafalque) in St. Peter’s Basilica; instead, the coffin will remain open until the night before the funeral, allowing visitors to pay their respects in a more modest setting. U.S. News & World Report+5eCatholic Teachings+5RNS+5Wikipedia+6RNS+6U.S. News & World Report+6RNS+3International Business Times UK+3eCatholic Teachings+3
Public viewing of Pope Francis’s body will begin on Wednesday, April 23, in St. Peter’s Basilica. Images released by the Vatican show him lying in an open casket at Casa Santa Marta, dressed in red vestments and his bishop’s miter. The Vatican has entered the “sede vacante” period, marking the vacancy of the papal office. Latest news & breaking headlines+2AP News+2The Guardian+2eCatholic Teachings+3Wikipedia+3Latest news & breaking headlines+3The Guardian
World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are expected to attend the funeral. Global tributes have poured in, praising Pope Francis for his compassion and advocacy for the poor and oppressed. The Guardian+1Latest news & breaking headlines+1International Business Times UK+2AP News+2Latest news & breaking headlines+2
Following the funeral, a nine-day mourning period known as “novendiali” will take place. The College of Cardinals, comprising about 135 elector cardinals, many appointed by Pope Francis, will convene in Rome within 15-20 days to elect the next pope through secret ballots in the Sistine Chapel. Latest news & breaking headlines+3AP News+3Axios+3People.com+2The Guardian+2AP News+2
Pope Francis’s death marks the end of a papacy characterized by humility, inclusiveness, and a focus on the marginalized. His simplified funeral arrangements and choice of burial site reflect his lifelong commitment to these values.
