Funeral Arrangements for Pope Francis: A Historic Farewell
The body of Pope Francis will be transferred this Wednesday to St. Peter's Basilica, allowing the faithful to pay their respects. The successor to the papacy brings uncertainty to the Church amidst contemporary challenges. The funeral for Pope Francis is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 AM in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Following the ceremony, the Pope's coffin will be moved to Santa Maria Maggiore for burial, in accordance with his wishes outlined in his will.
The solemn transfer of the body will commence after a moment of prayer led by Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell. The procession will trace its way from the papal residence at Santa Marta through Santa Marta Square and the Square of the Protomartyrs Romans, leaving from the Bell Tower Arch into St. Peter's Square and finally entering the Vatican Basilica through the central door.
Once inside, the Camerlengo will officiate the Liturgy of the Word at the Altar of the Confession, located under the baldachin. Following the service, the faithful will be permitted to visit and pay their respects to the late pontiff.
The duration for which Pope Francis’s body will be displayed is yet to be announced, as he has made certain modifications to the protocols concerning papal funerals. Notably, he chose a simpler approach: the body will be placed in a single wooden coffin with a zinc interior, displayed openly, eschewing the traditional catafalque, and foregoing the usual papal staff during the viewings. Additionally, the centuries-old custom of burying popes in three coffins made of different materials has been abolished.
Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, will become the first pope in one hundred years not to be laid to rest in the grottos of St. Peter's. In a heartfelt declaration, he expressed his desire to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore, a site of profound personal devotion. He noted, 'As I always promised the Virgin and the place is already prepared, I want to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore. I would visit there every Sunday morning during my time in Rome.'
In his will, he specifically requested, 'I ask that my grave be prepared in the niche of the lateral nave between the Pauline Chapel, the Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani, and the Sforza Chapel of the said Papal Basilica.' He further detailed that his tomb should have a simple design without embellishments, bearing only the inscription 'Franciscus.'
The funeral is anticipated to attract heads of state and dignitaries from around the globe, presided over by Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals.
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