Overview of the Funeral
On Saturday, April 26, 2025, the funeral of Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, will take place in Rome. He passed away at the age of 88 on April 23, 2025. The funeral marks the beginning of the Novendiali, nine days of official mourning following a Pope’s death.
Mass of Commendation in St. Peter’s Square
The ceremony will commence at 10:00 a.m. Rome time (2:00 a.m. Central Mexico Time) in the atrium of St. Peter’s Basilica, following the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis.
The funeral mass will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals. It will be a solemn mass with a more subdued format, as per Pope Francis’s wishes.
During the ceremony, the rites of Ultima commendatio (the soul’s final recommendation) and Valedictio (final farewell) will be performed, central acts in the papal funeral protocol.
Transfer and Burial at St. Mary Major
After the mass, Pope Francis’s casket will be briefly taken inside St. Peter’s Basilica before traveling through Rome’s streets to reach St. Mary Major, where he will be interred.
This marks the first papal burial outside the Vatican since 1903. Pope Francis chose this basilica due to his devotion to the Virgin Salus Populi Romani, whose icon he regularly venerated.
His white marble tomb will have only one inscription: “Franciscus,” accompanied by a replica of the pectoral cross he wore during his papacy.
Where to Watch the Ceremony Live
The mass and burial can be followed live through the official Vatican News YouTube channel:
The live broadcast will begin minutes before 10:00 a.m. Rome time (2:00 a.m. Mexico City Time), with multilingual narration, including Spanish.
International Attendance
Numerous heads of state and government, along with thousands of faithful already in Rome, will attend the funeral. By April 25, over 150,000 people had visited St. Peter’s Basilica for the wake.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the significance of Pope Francis’s funeral? The funeral marks the beginning of nine days of official mourning (Novendiali) following a Pope’s death. It also signifies the first papal burial outside the Vatican since 1903.
- Who will preside over the funeral mass? Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the funeral mass.
- Where will Pope Francis be buried? He will be interred at St. Mary Major, chosen for his devotion to the Virgin Salus Populi Romani.
- How can the public follow the funeral proceedings? The mass and burial will be broadcast live through the official Vatican News YouTube channel.
- Who is expected to attend the funeral? Heads of state and government, along with thousands of faithful, are expected to attend the funeral.
