The Vatican has confirmed that the funeral Mass for Pope Francis will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square. This solemn event will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, and is expected to draw numerous religious leaders, dignitaries, and heads of state from across the globe.
Pope Francis, aged 88, passed away peacefully on Easter Monday morning, April 21, at 7:35 a.m. local time following a stroke and subsequent cardiac arrest. Vatican officials reported that he did not suffer during his final moments. Earlier that day, he became unwell and was promptly attended to by his medical team. Before slipping into a coma, he made a poignant farewell gesture to his devoted nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti.
Earlier this year, the pontiff had endured a five-week hospital stay due to bilateral pneumonia but had returned to his residence at Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery. His health had been fragile for some time, with a history of respiratory issues dating back to his youth in Argentina.
On Wednesday morning, April 23, the Pope’s coffin will be solemnly transferred from the chapel of Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica. This procession, led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will pass through important Vatican squares, including Santa Marta Square and the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs, before entering the basilica through the central door.
Once inside St. Peter’s Basilica, the coffin will be placed at the Altar of the Confession, where Cardinal Farrell will conduct a Liturgy of the Word. The basilica will then open its doors for public veneration, allowing the faithful to pay their respects over three days: Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. until midnight, Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to midnight, and Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The funeral Mass on Saturday will be a grand yet simple ceremony, as per the Pope’s personal wishes. The service will conclude with the Ultima commendatio and Valedictio, prayers that begin the Novemdiales—a nine-day period of mourning and Masses dedicated to the repose of the late pontiff’s soul.
Following the funeral, Pope Francis’ body will be taken into St. Peter’s Basilica and then transported to the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome for burial. This choice honours his lifelong devotion to the Virgin Mary and represents a departure from the usual practice of interment within the Vatican itself. His tomb will bear only the inscription “Franciscus,” in accordance with his wishes.
The funeral is anticipated to attract a large international gathering, including over 70 heads of state and numerous religious leaders. Confirmed attendees include the presidents of France, Brazil, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and Argentina, as well as the British Prime Minister and the King and Queen of Belgium. U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania have also announced their intention to attend, despite past disagreements with the pontiff.
Pope Francis’ papacy was distinguished by his outspoken advocacy for the poor and marginalised, alongside efforts to modernise the Church amid resistance from traditionalists. This period of mourning and the upcoming conclave will be closely observed worldwide as Catholics and others reflect on the legacy of a pontiff who sought to bring compassion and reform to the Church.