The Vatican officially announced on Tuesday that the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88 following a stroke, will be held on Saturday morning.
The announcement was made shortly after the College of Cardinals convened for their first plenary session, marking the beginning of the process to elect a new Pope, as reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
According to a statement from the Holy See, the cardinals gathered at 9:00 a.m. local time (7:00 a.m. GMT) for their initial deliberations. This historic meeting served both to pay homage to the late Pontiff and to lay the groundwork for the forthcoming papal conclave, which will be held in the coming weeks to choose his successor.
In a symbolic and solemn moment, the Vatican released the first official photographs of Pope Francis lying in repose inside his wooden coffin, flanked by two solemn Swiss Guards. The body of the late Pope is currently resting in the Basilica of Santa Marta, the residence where he lived during his papacy.
The announcement of the funeral has drawn global attention, as faithful from around the world prepare to bid farewell to the spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics. World leaders, dignitaries, and religious figures are expected to attend the state funeral, which will follow the traditional rites of papal funerals observed throughout the Church’s history.
