Alice Davis and Jessica Loansley
BBC News
Getty Images
Pope Francis will be buried in the Esculino district of Rome, outside the Vatican.
Pope Francis’ funeral will be held on Saturday at St. Peter’s Square, with the Vatican confirming that hundreds of thousands of people expected to attend.
The head of the Catholic Church died of a stroke on Monday, age 88, within 24 hours of leading an Easter speech. He was in poor health after recently battling double pneumonia.
Many world leaders and royal hosts have confirmed their attendance, including Keir starmer, Donald Trump, Prince of Wales and Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva, home to the world’s largest Catholic population.
Thousands of mourners have already flocked to Vatican cities, carrying flowers, crosses, candles and reciting prayers.
On Tuesday, the Vatican released details of the Pope’s final 24 hours.
Francis, who recently spent five weeks at the hospital, was a bit uneasy about appearing on the balcony on Sunday.
“Do you think we can do this?” The Pope asked his personal nurse, Masimiliano Strapetti.
Strapetti reassured him, and at that moment the emperor appeared on the balcony, blessing the crowd, gathering at St. Peter’s Square below.
The next morning, at 05:30 local time (03:30 GMT), Francis began to feel sick. An hour later, he waved at Strapetti before falling into coma.
“The people who were close to him at those moments say he’s not suffering,” the Vatican said in a statement. “It was a modest death.”
What happens before the funeral?
EPA-EFE/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK
The Vatican has published a photo of Pope Francis in an open co-located in the chapel of Santa Marta, the Vatican residence that lived during the Pope for 12 years
On Wednesday morning, Pope Francis’ body is taken to a procession led by the Cardinals, from the Chapel of Santa Marta to the Cathedral of St. Peter.
Just before the procession, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who runs through the Vatican after the Pope’s death, leads a moment of prayer.
The Vatican has released a photo of the body of the Pope lying in the chapel of Casa Santa Malta – his residence during his 12 years of Pope – wearing a red robe with a Pope Miter on his head and a rosary in his hand.
The general public can visit St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesdays from 11pm to 11pm to midnight and Friday from 7:00am to 7:00pm.
Backing tradition, according to Pope Francis’ request, there is no private view of the Cardinals. Pope’s ffin can’t be raised on a pedestal either.
What time will the service be held?
Funeral services begin at 10:00 in the square in front of St. Peter Basilica.
Patriarchs, cardiacs, archbishops, bishops, bishops and priests from all over the world will take part. Cardinal Giovanni Batista Leh, dean of Cardinals University, will lead the service.
The Battista Re Cardinal is the final praise and dismantling – the final prayer the Pope will formally entrust to God – and the clergy’s remains are transferred to St. Mary’s Major for burial.
A nine-day mourning period known as Novemdiales begins.
Who is attending the funeral?
A large crowd is expected on Saturday, with as many as 250,000 people expected to attend the funeral.
The head of state and royal head confirmed attendance, including Prince William, US President Donald Trump, Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Leticia, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Other politicians who announced they would be present include:
Brazilian President Louise Inacio Lula da Silvapolish Andruze Dudaeu Committee President Ursula von der Reyenclein President Voldimurian Zelensky Javier Miley, Prime Minister British, Prime Minister Kiel Star Maritalia, Prime Minister Georgia Melonia
Where will Pope Francis be buried?
Pope Francis became famous for avoiding some of the pope’s majesty during his life, but will continue to break the tradition of death.
Historically, the Pope is buried in a triple co-co in a marble tomb inside St. Peter’s Cathedral in the heart of the Vatican. Pope Francis requested that he be buried in St. Mary’s Major Cathedral, Rome instead.
He will become the first pope in over 100 years and is placed to rest outside the Vatican.
In his final will, Pope Francis also asked to be buried “on the earth, simple, simple, without specific decorations,” and with only an inscription in Latin, Franciscus.
His body was moved to Santa Marta Chapel on Monday evening and his apartment was officially sealed, the Vatican said.
When will the new Pope be elected?
Following the funeral, the Cardinals Conclave is convened to elect a successor.
The dean of Cardinals University will have 15-20 days when the Pope summons the Cardinals to Rome when they are buried.
Some names have already floated as potential successors, and are likely to appear in the coming days.
