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The death of Pope Francis is being mourned by Catholics around the world. Francis is currently lying in state in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and his funeral will take place on Saturday, April 26.
The service is set to be a departure from papal tradition. In his final testament, Pope Francis simplified the Rite of Burial for Roman Pontiffs and his will be a far more modest ceremony as befitting a man who saw himself as a "disciple of Christ" rather than "a powerful man of this world." So how will the ceremony differ from previous papal funerals?
Click through the gallery and find out how the late pontiff is set to be buried.
On April 20, 2025, Pope Francis delivered his Urbi Et Orbi blessing from the balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. The message was read by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations.
In the early hours of April 21—Easter Monday—the pope complained of feeling unwell. The pontiff died before 8 am. He was 88 years old. The rite confirming the death and the placement of Pope Francis' body in the coffin took place on Monday evening in the ground-floor chapel of the Casa Santa Marta where the pope lived at the Vatican. The official declaration of death was read aloud. The act was validated by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.
On April 23, pallbearers, accompanied by members of the Swiss Guard, carried the coffin of the late pope in a procession from the chapel of Santa Marta to St Peter's Basilica.
The transfer of the pope's body to St. Peter's Basilica signaled a period of mourning. Worshippers had already begun to pay tribute to Pope Francis across the globe and memorial masses were underway.
With Pope Francis lying in state, arrangements are now in hand for Saturday's funeral, with hundreds of thousands of guests and mourners expected to attend the late pontiff's final ceremonies.
Meanwhile, thousands of people are queuing inside and outside St. Peter's Basilica to pay their respects to Pope Francis.
In 2024, Pope Francis simplified the Rite of Burial for Roman Pontiffs, which lays out the rubrics for papal funerals. He did so to demonstrate that he was a "shepherd and disciple of Christ" rather than "a powerful man of this world."
As part of Francis' push to simplify the papal funeral rites, his body is lying in state in an open wooden coffin, having done away with the tradition of having three coffins of cypress, lead, and oak.
The period between pontiffs is known as the "papal interregnum," when the church is without a spiritual leader. During this interval of sede vacante, or "empty chair," the church follows a clear set of rules as laid out in the apostolic constitution, Universi Dominici Gregis.
In accordance with cannon law, the pontiff's death triggers an elaborate series of rituals which will be orchestrated by the camerlengo—in this instance, Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
The exposition of Pope Francis' body for private visits by the papal household, Vatican staff, heads of state, and religious leaders is followed by the lying in state in St. Peter's Basilica.
Francis' coffin has been laid at the Altar of the Confessio, a sacred space near the basilica's main altar, above the tomb of St. Peter, the first pope.
On a day set by the camerlengo and until conclave commences, cardinals meet daily to manage day-to-day business of the church, responsibilities that include coordinating the lying in state, funeral, and conclave.
The Catholic Church observes an ancient Roman tradition of holding nine consecutive days of mourning known as the "novendiales," which will be marked by Eucharistic celebrations held in suffrage for the late pope.
While these Eucharistic celebrations are open to everyone, each day a different group is scheduled to participate, based on their connection with the Holy Father. These public funeral rites are also presided over by a different cardinal.
The papal selection process, or conclave, involves the Dean of the College of Cardinals inviting the College of Cardinals (conclave) to convene in the Vatican for the Papal Election within 20 days following the pope's funeral.
To elect a new pope from among their ranks, the cardinals conduct secret ballots behind closed doors in the Sistine Chapel.
The ballot papers are burned after each vote. If a new pope is elected, white smoke rises from the chapel chimney signaling a new pontiff.
With a new pontiff chosen, a mass is celebrated to install him. This usually takes place a few days after his election and is generally in St. Peter's Basilica.
Francis' simplification of the funeral rituals will see the late pontiff buried in a single coffin. This decision is seen by many as a reflection of his humility and departure from the traditional institution of the papacy.
According to his wishes, different language will be used during the funeral. The pope will be called "Bishop of Rome," "Pope," "Pastor," or "Roman Pontifex," with grander titles such as "Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church" now avoided.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, seen here putting seals on the papal apartment of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican following the announcement of Pope Francis' death, will seal the late pontiff's coffin on April 25, the eve of the funeral.
Francis' funeral liturgy will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old Italian who is currently dean of the College of Cardinals.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will lead those present in prayers and Bible readings. He will also deliver the final commendation and valediction, entrusting the pope's soul to God.
It's likely the funeral will be conducted in a variety of different languages, reflecting the Catholic Church's international reach and the varied backgrounds of those present. Pictured is Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presiding over the Easter Vigil at St. Peter's on April 19, 2025.
As with previous masses of this kind at the Vatican, the main prayers will be said in Latin and Italian, with Bible readings in Italian, Spanish, and English. It's expected that a number of shorter prayers will be read in other languages such as Arabic, Polish, and Chinese.
Pope Francis will be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore, a church lying outside the Vatican's walls that he was particularly fond of visiting. Francis is the first pope to be interred outside the Vatican since Leo XIII in 1903, and the first pope interred in Maria Maggiore since Clement IX in 1669.
In his final testament, Pope Francis requested his tomb be "in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation," and specified that the only word should be his papal name in Latin: "Franciscus." Pictured is the late pontiff's final resting place undergoing preparation.
Numerous political and religious leaders, royals, and celebrities have confirmed they will be at the Vatican for the service on Saturday, April 26. French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are among the major European leaders traveling to the Vatican. Brazil's president, Lula da Silva, UN chief António Guterres, and US President Donald Trump have also confirmed their presence.
Sources: (Vatican News) (Reuters) (CNN) (NBC) (Al Jazeera)
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The death of Pope Francis is being mourned by Catholics around the world. Francis is currently lying in state in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and his funeral will take place on Saturday, April 26.
The service is set to be a departure from papal tradition. In his final testament, Pope Francis simplified the Rite of Burial for Roman Pontiffs and his will be a far more modest ceremony as befitting a man who saw himself as a "disciple of Christ" rather than "a powerful man of this world." So how will the ceremony differ from previous papal funerals?
Click through the gallery and find out how the late pontiff is set to be buried.