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The World Says Goodbye: Pope Francis to Be Laid to Rest on Saturday

A Global Farewell as World Leaders and Faithful Gather to Honor Pope Francis’s Final Journey

Story Highlights
  • Pope Francis's funeral will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter's Square
  • His body will lie in state at the Vatican Basilica for public homage beginning Wednesday
  • Pope Francis requested a modest tomb with only the inscription "Franciscus" for his final resting place

Pope Francis’s funeral will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 a.m. (8:00 GMT) in St. Peter’s Square, as confirmed by the Holy See Press Office. World leaders are expected to gather for this historic and somber occasion.

On Wednesday, the late Pope’s body will be moved to the Vatican Basilica to allow the faithful to pay their respects. Pope Francis, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 88, will lie in state for public viewing.

The Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, will officiate the funeral, which will be attended by global dignitaries.

A portrait of Pope Francis is displayed following his death in the Church of the Blessed Eucharist in Lviv, Ukraine, 22 April 2025. EFE-EPA/MYKOLA TYS

Following the service, Pope Francis’s coffin will be taken to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial, as outlined in his will.

The procession will pass through various significant locations within the Vatican, culminating in a private burial in a simple tomb, per his wishes.

People line up inside Myeongdong Cathedral to pay their respects for late Pope Francis, in Seoul, South Korea, 22 April 2025. EFE-EPA/ANTHONY WALLACE / POOL

In line with the Pope’s desire for simplicity, his body will rest in a wooden casket lined with zinc, foregoing traditional ceremonial practices.

He requested that his tomb be unadorned, with only the inscription “Franciscus” marking the spot.

People line up inside Myeongdong Cathedral to pay their respects for late Pope Francis, in Seoul, South Korea, 22 April 2025. EFE-EPA/ANTHONY WALLACE / POOL

The funeral will be a poignant tribute to a leader who changed the course of history, with his legacy sure to live on in the hearts of the faithful worldwide.

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