Insight into Pope Francis' Funeral: Details and Viewing Guide
Pope Francis' funeral is set to take place this weekend following his death on Easter Monday. The 88-year-old pontiff died following a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure.
Preparations and Details
Many people are expected to travel to Rome and Vatican City to remember Pope Francis, and dignitaries from across the world are expected to attend the service. Streets surrounding the Vatican are under strict control, with law enforcement agencies coordinating to manage the expected influx of hundreds of thousands of mourners.
Event Schedule
Here is everything we know about Pope Francis' funeral: Pope Francis' funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26 in St Peter's Square in Vatican City at 10 am local time (9 am UK time). The outdoor service will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the college of cardinals. In January 2023, around 50,000 people attended the funeral of Francis' immediate predecessor, Pope Benedict, which was also held in St Peter's Square. Pope Francis' body has been on display in a wooden coffin in St Peter’s Basilica from Wednesday morning, and in the first 24 hours, more than 50,000 people had filed past the coffin to pay their respects. The funeral itself will begin at 9 am, with coverage being shown on both BBC One and Sky News.
Broadcast Coverage
BBC One's coverage begins at 8:30 am on Saturday, April 26 and runs for four hours, with Reeta Chakrabarti presenting live from St Peter’s Square in Vatican City. You will also be able to watch the BBC's coverage on both BBC iPlayer and the BBC News Channel. Sky News presenter Anna Botting will host a special programme live from Rome, with commentary from Sky News commentator Alastair Bruce, who will guide viewers through the funeral. The special programme can also be viewed on YouTube and the Sky News App, will feature prominent guests and will include live streams of both the build-up to and the aftermath of the service.
Dignitaries and Details
Pope Francis' funeral is expected to be attended by dignitaries from 170 foreign delegations, as well as tens of thousands of ordinary people wanting to pay their respects. Members of royal families are expected to attend, with Prince William going on behalf of the King, while Belgium King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Spain King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, and Norway Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit will also be at the service. A host of foreign leaders will attend the funeral service, too, including US president Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Taoiseach Micheal Martin.
Burial Details
Unlike his predecessors, Pope Francis has decided against being buried in the Vatican. Instead, he will be buried in the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome’s Esquilino neighbourhood, where he went to pray before and after his foreign trips. Francis requested that he be buried “in the ground, without particular decoration” but with the inscription of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus. Once the funeral mass has finished, Francis’s coffin will be taken, in procession, to Santa Maria Maggiore. The Vatican announced that people will be able to visit Francis’s tomb in the basilica from Sunday morning. For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.