Pope Francis’ Funeral Begins at the Vatican
Funeral of Pope Francis, April 26, 2025. x/ @PhilippineStar
April 26, 2025 Hour: 4:35 am
Hours earlier, the closing rite of Pope Francis’s coffin took place at the Altar of Confession in St. Peter’s Basilica.
On Saturday, Pope Francis’ funeral began in St. Peter’s Square with the presence of delegations from at least 130 countries, around 50 heads of state, and thousands of people.
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The funeral rites officially started at 10:00 a.m. and were officiated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, in the presence of other cardinals and members of the Curia.
The coffin containing Pope Francis’ body was carried out on the shoulders of pallbearers from inside St. Peter’s Basilica, where it had been on display for three days to allow thousands of faithful to bid farewell to the Holy Father. At the end of the religious ceremony, thousands of people waited in St. Peter’s Square to offer their final farewell to Pope Francis.
After the Mass, the coffin was carried in procession. The funeral cortege began at the Prince Amadeo of Savoy Gallery, continued along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, and arrived at Piazza Venezia. From there, the procession made its way toward the Imperial Forums, took Via Labicana, and then Via Merulana, passing by the Basilica of St. John Lateran, before reaching Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore, where Pope Francis would be buried.
His tomb will be marked by a marble slab inscribed with “Franciscus” and a replica of his pectoral cross. Francis had requested to be buried in a simple wooden coffin. His preferences were partly due to the humility that characterized him and also to his devotion to the Virgin Mary venerated in that church.
Hours before the funeral, the rite of the sealing of Pope Francis’ coffin was performed at the Altar of the Confession in St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell presided over the ceremony, during which the Master of Liturgical Celebrations, Monsignor Diego Ravelli, read the rogito, a document written in Latin that details the life and works of the Pope.
Once sealed, the coffin was covered with a cross, the papal coat of arms, and a plaque bearing the Holy Father’s name, the year of his birth, and the duration of his pontificate. This rite was carried out according to the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis and was attended by high-ranking authorities of the Catholic Church and members of Pope Francis’ family.
teleSUR/ JF
Sources: Vatican News – EFE
