By Courtney Mares
Vatican City, Apr 22, 2025 / 17:08 pm
As the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church embarks on a period of solemn remembrance known as the Novendiales.
Rooted in ancient Christian and Roman traditions, the Novendiales spans nine days of Masses to honor the late pope’s soul. This practice, dating back centuries, mirrors the ancient Roman custom of a nine-day funeral rite.
According to Church law, the Novendiales officially begin on the day of the pope’s funeral, which is set for April 26. The mourning period, known as the “sede vacante,” will continue through May 4 with daily Masses offered in remembrance.
During the days leading up to the funeral, Pope Francis’ body will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, providing an opportunity for the faithful to pay their final respects. The public viewing will be held from Wednesday morning until the funeral on Saturday morning.
The funeral: A global farewell
Between the fourth and sixth day following the pope’s passing, the papal funeral will take place at St. Peter’s Basilica or St. Peter’s Square. The ceremony will be led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. Pope Francis’ funeral is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. Rome time.
The funeral will adhere to the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the Vatican’s official liturgical guide for papal funerals, which was revised at Pope Francis’ behest in 2024.
Remembering the Late Pope: A Farewell Fit for a Saint
As the world mourns the passing of the beloved pope, his face, serene in death, is covered with a delicate silk veil as he lies in a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc. Heads of state, religious leaders, and thousands of faithful from around the globe gather to pay their final respects at the solemn ceremony.
At the conclusion of the Mass, the hauntingly beautiful antiphon “In Paradisum” fills the air, a prayer for the angels to guide the pope’s soul to heaven.
“May angels lead you into paradise; upon your arrival, may the martyrs receive you and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. May the ranks of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, the poor man, may you have eternal rest.”
In a poignant gesture honoring his final wishes, Pope Francis will not be laid to rest in the Vatican grottoes but at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, a place of deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary that he visited over 100 times during his papacy.
The Novendiales: A Time of Mourning and Reflection
The nine-day Novendiales Masses, as prescribed by the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, commence on the day of the pope’s funeral.
Each day, a cardinal chosen by the late pope leads a requiem Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, with red as the solemn liturgical color in accordance with the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (2024).
While the Masses are open to the public, each day is dedicated to a specific group associated with the pope. Vatican City residents and employees are invited on the day following the funeral, clergy from the Diocese of Rome on the third day, and members of the Eastern Catholic Churches on the seventh day.
The Holy See Press Office has confirmed that the Mass in St. Peter’s Square for the Jubilee of Teenagers, presided over by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, will serve as the second Novendiales Mass, offering a time of prayer and remembrance for all those who loved and respected the late pope.
