Rome, Italy: The Vatican is making its final preparations for the funeral of Pope Francis, as the last of the enormous crowds of mourners pass through St Peter’s Basilica to view his open coffin.
The funeral ceremony will be held on Saturday, 27th of April, in St Peter’s Square and is expected to be attended by at least 130 foreign delegations, including 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs.
Among the prominent figures expected to arrive in Rome are United States President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, and Britain’s Prince William.
Pope Francis’ tomb in the Basilica of St. Mary Major has been made with materials from the Italian region of Liguria. It is a simple tomb bearing only the inscription “Franciscus” and a reproduction of the late Pope’s pectoral cross.
The tomb is located near the Altar of St.… pic.twitter.com/gltWSJfccb
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) April 24, 2025
Italian and Vatican authorities have implemented strict security measures around St Peter’s, including a no-fly zone, rooftop snipers, blocked drone activity, and fighter jets on standby. Italy’s civil protection agency anticipates that several hundred thousand people will converge on Rome during the already busy public holiday weekend.
Tens of thousands of people have queued for hours to pay their last respects to the late pontiff, who died on Eater Monday at the age of 88. His body has been lying in state in St Peter’s Basilica for three days, dressed in papal vestments consisting of a red chasuble, white mitre, and black shoes.
The Pope’s coffin will be sealed during a ceremony attended by senior cardinals. The ritual, known as the Rite of the Sealing of the Coffin, will be presided over by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo responsible for overseeing the Vatican’s daily operations until a new pope is elected.
Despite medical advice, Pope Francis made a final public appearance on Easter Sunday, riding in the popemobile and attending mass and his last speech condemned those who promote contempt toward the vulnerable, marginalized individuals, and migrants.
Following the funeral, the Argentine Pontiff’s coffin will be transported at a walking pace to his preferred church, the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
Pope will be buried in the ground, and his simple tomb will bear only the inscription ‘Franciscus.’ The public will be allowed to visit the tomb beginning Sunday morning.
Attention will then shift to the conclave, where eligible cardinals under the age of 80, currently numbering around 135, will elect the next pope. While no date has been announced, the Church requires that the conclave begin between 15 and 20 days following the death of a pope.
Cardinals from across the globe have already been arriving in Rome and have been meeting daily to prepare for the next steps in selecting Pope Francis’s successor.
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