Pope’s Funeral Procession in Rome

The funeral of Pope Francis will be a solemn event held in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 AM, following three days of lying in state in the papal basilica.

More than 90,000 mourners have paid their respects to the late pontiff since Wednesday morning, with St Peter’s Basilica remaining open throughout the night to accommodate the crowds.

In line with his desire to simplify the papal funeral rites, Pope Francis’ body rests in an open wooden casket, a departure from the traditional three coffins of cypress, lead, and oak.

The public viewing will conclude on Friday evening at 7:00 PM, after which Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican Camerlengo, will preside over the Rite of Sealing the Coffin at 8:00 PM, a ceremony broadcast live on Vatican News’ channels.

On Saturday morning, St Peter’s Square will welcome world leaders, foreign delegations, cardinals, priests, and hundreds of thousands of faithful attendees for Pope Francis’ funeral.

Tickets are not required for the event, but expect large crowds in Rome, especially during this Jubilee Year.

Transport services in the city have been increased, and the funeral ceremony will be televised on giant screens along Via della Conciliazione, as well as in Piazza Pia, Piazza Risorgimento, and Piazza Esquilino.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will lead the funeral liturgy and deliver the final commendation and valediction as the pope’s coffin is brought inside St Peter’s Basilica.

Following the funeral, the late pontiff’s body will be laid to rest in Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, about six kilometers from St Peter’s.

The funeral procession, moving at a walking pace, will traverse the city streets before reaching Santa Maria Maggiore, where a group of poor people will welcome the late pontiff’s body.

Although the burial will not be open to the public, people can pay their respects to Pope Francis during the funeral procession, which will be lined with barriers, according to Rome’s prefect Lamberto Giannini.

The funeral marks the beginning of the Novemdiales, a nine-day mourning period that will lead to the conclave to choose a new pope, set to commence between May 6 and May 11.

Pope Francis’s tomb is being prepared at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. pic.twitter.com/LkUu0frqpl

— Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) April 23, 2025

Pope Francis’ tomb in the Basilica of St Mary Major has been made with marble from Liguria, the Italian region of his grandparents, as per his final wishes.

It is a simple tomb bearing only the inscription “Franciscus” and a reproduction of his pectoral cross.

The late pontiff had a special devotion to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, making over 100 visits during his pontificate.

By choosing Santa Maria Maggiore as his final resting place, Pope Francis becomes the first pope in over a century not to be buried in St Peter’s.

The pope’s tomb will be open for visitation from the morning of Sunday, April 27, the day after his burial, as confirmed by the Vatican.

Photo credit: Alessia Pierdomenico / Shutterstock.com.