• Pope Francis, the 88-year-old Argentine pontiff, will lie in state from Wednesday morning, allowing Catholics worldwide to pay their final respects. The Vatican released images showing the Pope in an open coffin.
The Vatican has announced that the funeral of Pope Francis will be held at 10 a.m. local time on Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, in front of the iconic basilica, according to msn.com. The event is expected to draw a significant number of world leaders, underlining the global importance of the occasion.
Among those who have confirmed attendance are U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also reportedly planning to attend, although his presence has yet to be officially confirmed.
In contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated he will not be attending, just an hour after the funeral schedule was released. His absence is linked to an active International Criminal Court arrest warrant over Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Large international gatherings such as this often present diplomatic challenges. At Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005, 28 prime ministers, 53 presidents, and four kings were in attendance. Notably, then Prince Charles was seated close to Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, who had defied a European travel ban to attend.
As per Vatican rules established in 1996, a pope’s funeral must occur between four and six days after death, followed by a nine-day mourning period.
The 88-year-old Argentine pontiff, who passed away on Monday, will lie in state from Wednesday morning, allowing Catholics worldwide to pay their final respects. The Vatican released images showing Pope Francis in an open coffin. According to the Holy See press office, his coffin will be moved from the Chapel of the DomusSanctae Marthae to St. Peter’s Basilica at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, will preside over a Mass at the Altar of the Confession before the public begins viewing. On Tuesday morning, cardinals gathered for the first time since the Pope’s death. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the session began with a prayer, followed by the reading of the Pope’s will.
Where will the Pope be buried?
Pope Francis revealed his final wishes in his will, requesting to be buried in a simple, unadorned tomb inside his beloved Roman basilica, Santa Maria Maggiore.
“Feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching, and with lively hope in Eternal Life, I wish to express my testamentary will only with regard to the place of my burial,” he wrote in the will, dated June 29, 2022, and published by the Vatican on Monday.
“I ask that my mortal remains rest, awaiting the day of the resurrection, in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.”
In his will, Francis specified the exact spot in the side nave of the basilica for his tomb, even including an attached diagram. He noted that burial expenses had been arranged in advance.
“The tomb must be in the earth—simple, without particular decoration, and with the only inscription: Franciscus.”
In closing, the spiritual leader of the world’s Catholics asked the Lord to “give the deserved reward to those who loved me and will continue to pray for me.” He wrote: “I offered the suffering that became present in the last part of my life to the Lord for world peace and brotherhood among peoples.”
